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DPChallenge Forums >> Rant >> Beggars can be drivers
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 27, (reverse)
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 03/09/2013 04:59:37 PM · #1
My mother was at a stop light today and saw a man with a cardboard sign and a backpack begging for money. He then looked at his watch, walked about 40 feet to a parking lot, got in his very nice Ford Expedition and drove away. Makes me want to puke.
 03/09/2013 05:11:36 PM · #2
...imagine how you would feel if he tried to rob her.

Ray
 03/09/2013 05:42:16 PM · #3
When we lived in our last our last house there was a guy with a cardboard sign that was always at the stop sign where we got off the freeway. He always had a dirty cast on his leg. Sometimes it was on his left leg, sometimes it was on his right, but whatever. One day Allex saw him take the cast off and start walking down the street towards our house. It turned out that he lived in one of the houses (a shack, really) down the street from us.

He certainly wasn't rolling in dough, but he wasn't homeless, either.
 03/09/2013 06:18:46 PM · #4
they did a piece on 20/20 ten years ago or so, showed a series of beggars and their tricks and/or lives. one guy would put on a $300 jogging suit and ask people for cab fare in central park saying he just got mugged. he made an average of $800 a day.
 03/09/2013 09:46:19 PM · #5
There used to be a guy who sat off North Ave Exit in Downtown Atlanta. Sign Said" I 'll be honest I just want Booze" I used to laugh everythime I saw him and give him a $5. My Ex asked my why I gave him money. Simple at least he was honest with me.
 03/09/2013 10:22:12 PM · #6
How's $100,000 a year sound?

Just get a degree in speech pathology, grab a wheelchair and have at it.
 03/10/2013 08:19:58 AM · #7
This is why I dont feel bad not giving them money.
 03/10/2013 05:06:49 PM · #8
Personally, I feel that if people CAN make money this way, and WANT to make money this way, all the power to them.
 03/10/2013 05:35:43 PM · #9
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..

Message edited by author 2013-03-10 17:50:44.
 03/10/2013 09:54:55 PM · #10
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Personally, I feel that if people CAN make money this way, and WANT to make money this way, all the power to them.

Free enterprise at its best! Besides, here, as in every profession*, there will always be a few outliers who are giving honest and legitimate beggars a bad name.

*with the possible exception of Congress, where everyone seems an outliar outlier ...
 03/10/2013 10:04:45 PM · #11
Originally posted by alans_world:
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..


Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.
 03/10/2013 10:42:43 PM · #12
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by alans_world:
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..


Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.


guilty by association.
 03/10/2013 10:51:35 PM · #13
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by alans_world:
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..

Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.

Since when is "military" considered part of "government" in the pejorative sense? That's 26 years of SERVICE, Deb, and we appreciate it.
 03/10/2013 10:59:55 PM · #14
Originally posted by Melethia:
Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.


As they say " Government is simply the things we choose to do together." I am tired of those who choose to do things simply for their own good, acting as if they have done some higher good than those who have chosen to serve the common weal. Karl Marx was wrong, but Ayn Rand was wronger.

PS to the OP's point; Do not give to the guys with the sign by the onramp begging for money. If they make you feel bad (or just plain lucky) give to a homeless shelter, or a food bank. Give your money to people who will care for those who really need it. They are harder to con than you are.

Message edited by author 2013-03-10 23:05:24.
 03/10/2013 11:17:25 PM · #15
Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Karl Marx was wrong, but Ayn Rand was wronger.


when you have well defined extremes its easy to find the middle.
 03/10/2013 11:32:00 PM · #16
Originally posted by mike_311:
when you have well defined extremes its easy to find the middle.


These days, we could all use a little more common ground.
 03/10/2013 11:36:43 PM · #17
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by alans_world:
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..

Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.

Since when is "military" considered part of "government" in the pejorative sense? That's 26 years of SERVICE, Deb, and we appreciate it.

The military IS part of the government. A very BIG part. We work side by side with Department of Defense civilians, who are much maligned. So when people slam "the government", I hope they know they're slamming me, my brothers and sisters in arms, our civilian counterparts, local firefighters, the police force, and so on. Yes, government can be too big, and too cumbersome, and stupid... but it's not a big black hole of evil-doers out to get the proverbial "you".

Just my two cents worth, which is really only 1.1 cents after taxes.
 03/10/2013 11:57:31 PM · #18
Originally posted by Melethia:
Just my two cents worth, which is really only 1.1 cents after taxes.


If you are getting 1.1 cents after you put in your 2 cents you have: a lousy accountant; a very high income; been paying a percentage basis based on a tax code before 1986.
 03/11/2013 12:09:45 AM · #19
Heh! Good point. But don't forget to add state tax and sales tax!
 03/11/2013 01:50:02 AM · #20
Deb, I also served, my wording was improper. I was referring to the part time officials supposedly, by, of and for the people..
 03/11/2013 02:37:44 AM · #21
I believe when most people think of Government they think of Politicians. Who we all have issues with one way or another. Of course my father served in the Navy in Vietnam and worked as a Civil Servant for the DOD for over 37 years. Made a decent living. He used to joke that they were the highest paid coffee drinkers. I believed him till I went to work with Accountants and bankers.
 03/11/2013 08:45:32 AM · #22
the problem with government employees is that non government employees pay their salaries and a lot of the time we don't feel as if we are getting our moneys worth or for whatever reason the amount from that those of us that do pay, never seems to be enough to pay for the services we "require".

03/11/2013 08:56:24 AM · #23
Originally posted by mike_311:
the problem with government employees is that non government employees pay their salaries and a lot of the time we don't feel as if we are getting our moneys worth or for whatever reason the amount from that those of us that do pay, never seems to be enough to pay for the services we "require".


I think, IMO, only republicans tend to feel this way, and I think it's a fairly new feeling due to Fox News and the talking heads. In truth, while the politicians are extremely overpaid, the actual government "workers" (our service people, police, fire, etc.) are usually woefully underpaid. The actual rank and file of the military are paid so little they usually qualify for foodstamps. If you took the huge salaries of congress and slashed them, you just might find people that want to actually help govern people in a way that would benefit the whole country.
 03/11/2013 09:20:22 AM · #24
Originally posted by Kelli:
Originally posted by mike_311:
the problem with government employees is that non government employees pay their salaries and a lot of the time we don't feel as if we are getting our moneys worth or for whatever reason the amount from that those of us that do pay, never seems to be enough to pay for the services we "require".


I think, IMO, only republicans tend to feel this way, and I think it's a fairly new feeling due to Fox News and the talking heads. In truth, while the politicians are extremely overpaid, the actual government "workers" (our service people, police, fire, etc.) are usually woefully underpaid. The actual rank and file of the military are paid so little they usually qualify for foodstamps. If you took the huge salaries of congress and slashed them, you just might find people that want to actually help govern people in a way that would benefit the whole country.


Keep in mind Congress (House and Senate) is less than 1000 people, and if you took away their salaries, most of them are still pretty darn well off. In other words, slashing THEIR salaries wouldn't make much of a dent in any deficits, and really wouldn't affect those who are receiving them all that much. With this latest fiasco with the sequestration business, not a single one should be re-elected, but they do have very long, very involved work days when they are in session.
 03/11/2013 09:43:13 AM · #25
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by alans_world:
Lets face it, there is only so many slots open in government, the rest have to do something for income..

Sigh. I spent 26 years in government. Everyone thinks we're the bad guys. We're people, too, you know.

Since when is "military" considered part of "government" in the pejorative sense? That's 26 years of SERVICE, Deb, and we appreciate it.

The military IS part of the government. A very BIG part.

Of course. But I *did* say "in the perjorative sense".
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