| In Los Angeles, I see many people who operate a begging "business". Many have their "spot" at a traffic light. I see the same beggars at the same spots, everyday, for many years. In these cases, begging has become their "job". They are not begging for relief from a temporary hardship, they are operating a business.
Similarly, I lived for a while in Cork, Ireland. I discovered that a family was operating a begging business. The mother would station her three children at different locations, and travel around to supervise them. While the children looked shabby, the mother wore a brand new track suit. It looked like she was quite prosperous. If begging is a successful business, it will continue, and expand. Other people will see the success of begging, and take up that job as well. If begging is a failure, then it will stop. To truly help a person in need, here is a solution: do not give a beggar money. Instead, offer to buy him some food to eat, or give him clothing. If the beggar is genuine, he will accept the offer. If not, he will say, "Can't you just give me some money." A begging child should be taken to authorities, who can put the child in a better situation than begging for criminals. If parents or gangsters are successful using children to beg, more and more children will be exploited. Refusing to give cash, and offering food instead, will stop begging businesses and gang-controlled begging. It will help the truly destitute. |
No Baggars Premitted on Metro?