Why so many panhandlers in Missoula? (Bozeman, Hot Springs: how much, tax, live in)

[Klapton]

Originally Posted by Redraven

For those who may be wondering, "Tropic Lightning" (or the "Electric Strawberry") refers to the 25th Infantry Division. The division patch shows a lightning bolt on a taro leaf.
"BDU" stands for "Battle Dress Uniform", the original designation for the first generation camoflage uniforms.

MONTANANS have an "unhealthy obsession with labeling things leberal or conservative"?? It seems to me, from reading several different forums on Algore's internet, and from direct observation in more than one state, that the whole country has such an obsession, especially the so-called "mainstream media"!

"Liberal" and "Conservative" and "Left" and "Right" is how the people at the TOP keep those of us at the BOTTOM distracted from the fact that BOTH major political parties are owned by the same people and are bent on nothing other than maintaining their own wealth and power. And those same people who own the politicians also own the mainstream media. They want to keep US divided, because if WE ever united and rose up against THEM ... their game would be over and WE would get our country back.

[cedar_bluff_tree_farm]

To get back to the original question, my opinion of why Missoula has so many transients is because they find better success (get more money) there than elsewhere.

By definition, transients aren't attached to a particular neighborhood or city, so they'll tend to stay when they find a place that works well for them. Places that have people who are more willing to share will work well for transients.

I lived in Phoenix for a while, but not a lot of transients there. Tough climate, but more importantly, I didn't see people hand them money. They'd stand for hours and not get much, and move on pretty quick. I've since moved to Seattle and there are lots of panhandlers, but also lots of people who hand them money at street corners.

I think it's easy to drive through Missoula and say that Missoula has a panhandling problem, but it's actually America that has a panhandling problem and the panhandlers gather in the cities that work the best for them.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by cedar_bluff_tree_farm

I think it's easy to drive through Missoula and say that Missoula has a panhandling problem, but it's actually America that has a panhandling problem and the panhandlers gather in the cities that work the best for them.

To be accurate, the whole world has ALWAYS had a panhandling problem ("beggar" is one of the oldest professions), but until a couple decades ago, America didn't have many professional beggars. And 30-40 years ago, if someone asked for a handout, they probably actually needed it. Not so anymore, as begging is a growing "professional segment" in America.

As America ceases to be that new and vibrant country where everyone can earn their way to success, and becomes more like the rest of the world (where hard work is often not rewarded), we also are finally getting our share of one of the world's most widespread problems. Socialism increases this problem by ensuring that people who work hard feel like they've wasted their time, so why not be a beggar instead??

[cedar_bluff_tree_farm]

Did you know that beggars sometimes have bank accounts? I knew a bank teller at a nice bank in Montana that had several accounts belonging to panhandlers. This bank teller was a little sickened when she saw the balance as she made the deposit.

[Dea13]

Thanks for the replies. We try to stay away from bigger cities no matter where we are so I guess I don't see panhandling much. Downtown Milwaukee because I work there but that's about it.

Thanks again.

Deanna

[tom62]

Originally Posted by Plain Jane 3953

The first two responses to this discussion show just how sick some Americans can be. Why label people as "liberal" or "conservative"?? It is dividing the country and seriously causing deep rooted problems. The country is in a hell of a mess as it is - the people need to unite and work together.

Agreed. Seems thats about all we ever heard when we lived near Missoula..Everyone gets labeled. Missoulans hated the outsiders "moving in", my inlaws were all over that everytime we saw a Washington state lic. plate. My brother in law called all the panhandlers "tree huggers" and "granolas". I think he was mistaken the transient folk for the new age hippies. Its been a few years since we had been in Missoula, always remember seeing the cardboard shelters tucked into the I-90 overpasses.

[Reziac]

I used to live down by Bozeman's hobo jungle, next to the old scrapyard in the "Fruit Section". I never once saw any of them begging. When they needed money, they'd go sort iron or unload coal for a day.

Old-old definitions I once heard, from back when riding the rails was commonplace:

Hobo: travels around and works
Tramp: travels around
Bum: does neither

I once met a guy who'd built a cardboard shack that had two rooms and running water!! (He'd piped it in from a nearby spring)

[sobolewski]

I was in Missoula this past Sunday & just came from Darby visiting relatives. I
was so shocked to see all the strung out kids in in downtown district. I totally
agree that they are not homeless but, they choose that life. I have to deal with these kids where I live but, this is a big horrible city where I live now.

[rickers]

My wife just told me that she heard the city of Missoula just passed some ordinance restricting the panhandling in some way.

[MT Independent]

I sometimes confuse the panhandlers with the trustafarians when in Missoula. I reckon that's just a generational gap thing.