Should I give money to the homeless? (Berkeley: 2014, crime rates)

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by gummybear11

Do you also make it a "policy" to cobble together irrelevant examples that only make you come across an even bigger, clueless cretin?

I'm rubber and you're glue.

[gummybear11]

more playground clichés, please, as you obviously are unable to defend nor justify your stingy definition of charity where giving is narrowly restricted to your idiosyncratic moral conditions and view of how people must live their lives, so you can sleep at night.

[BlakeJones]

Originally Posted by gummybear11

this attitude always comes across as patronizing and self-serving, and completely contrary to the spirit of charity.

Except that direct money given to the homeless is actually almost always used to buy drugs or alcohol. But go ahead and live in your fantasy world that John Doe is going to walk over to Whole Foods and buy himself some organic vegetables and a bunch of multivitamins. Whatever makes you feel better at night

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by BlakeJones

Except that direct money given to the homeless is actually almost always used to buy drugs or alcohol. But go ahead and live in your fantasy world that John Doe is going to walk over to Whole Foods and buy himself some organic vegetables and a bunch of multivitamins. Whatever makes you feel better at night

It may be true that direct money is “almost always used to buy drugs or alcohol.” I don’t know. And neither do you. Unless you know of some research I have yet to find? Please share research to support your claims as freely as you post your assumptions.

[BlakeJones]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

It may be true that direct money is “almost always used to buy drugs or alcohol.” I don’t know. And neither do you. Unless you know of some research I have yet to find? Please share research to support your claims as freely as you post your assumptions.

As I will always state people are free to do with their money as they please, and you cannot begrudge anyone for being charitable. So if you believe your money will be well spent upon donation to a person on the street, then by all means who am I to tell you otherwise. I just know that for myself I will never give a penny directly to anyone begging for it as I believe it will be used to further the person's misery even if after a short-lived high. I prefer to give time to food distribution centers and money to audited charities that provide food and clothing where there is no doubt that the money is being used to help someone

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by BlakeJones

As I will always state people are free to do with their money as they please, and you cannot begrudge anyone for being charitable. So if you believe your money will be well spent upon donation to a person on the street, then by all means who am I to tell you otherwise. I just know that for myself I will never give a penny directly to anyone begging for it as I believe it will be used to further the person's misery even if after a short-lived high. I prefer to give time to food distribution centers and money to audited charities that provide food and clothing where there is no doubt that the money is being used to help someone

Right. In other words: you made a claim as fact without evidence of truth.

I don’t disagree with your preference for charity. Nor do I assume money given direct is well spent.

I do disagree with people making statements of fact wirhout evidence. It leads to acceptance of mythology.

[TCROX]

Totally DO NOT give money to any beggers or vagrants - just look around- they had drug and booze problems before they went to jail- now that jerry and gavin have forced them into the streets and other public places- getting loaded and doing awful stuff is job #1
Just look at how bad it's gotten- don't help sponsor or enlarge this mess by helping them stay high.

[brownbagg]

that twenty dollar that one gave to the homeless, that twenty dollars was a hour and a half of hard labor for me, that twenty dollars was a pound of hamburger meat some potatoes, vegetable, loaf of bread and a Eskimo pie, that was two maybe three meals. that twenty dollars was a half tank of gas to get to work for the week.

not being mean but i had to work for that twenty dollars, all he doing is holding a sign that says, "I need a beer"

Im sorry, im a conseravtive that means to conserve. want a beer, get a job, I dont mean that in a mean way, I mean if you want a beer, find a job to pay for it

[earslikeacat]

There, by the grace of God, go I.
The Bible says to give to all who ask: no sidenote that says "...except to the homeless that may or may not have a substance problem."
Have I given to every single person, no. But most of us have the spirit of discernment.

[davdaven]

You might as well buy them the cheap booze directly rather than give them the cash. Cut out the middle man!

Originally Posted by TCROX

now that jerry and gavin have forced them into the streets and other public places- getting loaded and doing awful stuff is job #1

For the record, Gavin was supportive of a care-not-cash program. You can blame the other SF politicians for the mess we're in. And I know it doesn't fit your narrative, but Jerry's handling of homelessness doesn't differ much from the Governator that preceded him.