Why so many panhandlers in Missoula?

[vaughnwilliams]

Originally Posted by rickers

The beggars are the same types you'll find in Portland Oregon, dirty dread-locked young runaway types and many are homeless and addicted to drugs (mostly heroin). Missoula as well as Portland Oregon are dominated by liberals who turn their heads the other way, ignoring and allowing the problem. These types are not tolerated in most other cities in Montana (there may be some in Bozeman also). These cretins generally are run out of the small towns as soon as they arrive.

I live in a VERY conservative area and the panhandlers and other street people are everywhere. So much for your "Blame the Liberals" argument.

[KLBFL50]

Originally Posted by Reziac

If they're like panhandlers most places, they're professional beggars, not homeless at all. A good pitch (a beggar's regular "workplace") is worth up to $100 a day -- why do real work when passersby will give you money just for looking pathetic?

Real homeless people are usually too proud to beg.

Funny thing is, you see a lot more career beggars in liberal areas, yet per IRS records from candidates for office (who must make this info public), conservatives give 5 times as much to charity as liberals do. There's a big difference between offering help, and demanding it.

We are thinking of moving to MT for a while, that is why I have been reading on this website. Just getting the feel for all things Montanan. We have loved it there both times we visited and are planning to visit in early spring.

Here in Florida ours can make upwards of $800 a day, maybe not lately but 5 years ago. We used to live near Orange Park and one killed another and his excuse was "he was in my (panhandling) territory". We have had problems like Daytona Beach busing homeless to Orlando and dropping them off and even New York City was flying them down to Florida and dropping them off. A young couple at our church tried to get a homeless guy a job but he quit, then another job and he quit. He finally told them that he didn't want to work, he liked the way he lived. I have no sympathy for panhandlers anymore, homeless- depends.

[rickers]

Originally Posted by vaughnwilliams

I live in a VERY conservative area and the panhandlers and other street people are everywhere. So much for your "Blame the Liberals" argument.

Well in our state the only places where you see street bums panhandling are the few towns that are left leaning. In the conservative towns panhandling is virtually nonexistent.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by KLBFL50

Here in Florida ours can make upwards of $800 a day, maybe not lately but 5 years ago.

Holy.... We're all in the wrong business!!