One thing that is striking to me as I drive around town is the number of signs I see that say, “we are hiring” from unskilled fast food positions to skilled craftsman. Another is the number of people I see begging on a street corners. Sometimes I will see four people, one on each street corner. Sometimes I will see two or more people working together. Why do we see two opposite circumstances in tandem? I often think about a sign government workers put up at an intersection in a nearby county. The sign advised the citizens not to give money to people on street corners because the county had services to those in need.
Years ago before the advent of Islam Terrorists in the United States, airports were like retail stores. Anyone could go there and walk in. Dishonest people took advantage of that invitation and used the opportunity to deceive others and separate them from their money. The ruse worked like this. The dishonest person would approach a traveler in the terminal telling them he had lost his wallet and needed cab fare to get home. That simple ruse worked well. The better deceivers were making a middle class income with no social security or income taxes to pay. The gravy train came to a screeching halt because frequent travelers began to complain to airport management about constantly being panhandled by beggars. If my memory serves me well I think one of the professional beggars sued one airport claiming his rights were being violated. He lost. In today’s environment the courts might find a Constitutional Right for the beggars to continue their profession in the airports. I have to confess I fell for the lost my wallet ruse, not at an airport but on a sidewalk. A man approached me wearing a clerical collar claiming to have lost his wallet and needing bus fare to get home. In my naivete I reasoned , this is a man who serves others in trying to bring others to God so I gave him money. The very next day the same guy approached me with the same story. When I reminded him he approached me yesterday he walked away. I feel indebted to him. He taught me that I do foolish things.
Why is begging such an effective way to bring in money? One reason is most people want to help people whom they perceive as needy. Sometimes they feel obligated to “help people” such as those who hold up signs claiming to be a veteran. People will give these beggars money feeling they own these “veterans” something. It is amazing how many “veterans” are begging on street corners. It makes a lot of people feel good about helping others while the reality is they are enabling deceitful people to prosper. It also gives them an opportunity to virtue signal to others how wonderful they are as they look out for their fellow man. Is that hypocrisy? Did not Jesus condemn people who did things to be “seen of men”.
Another reason begging is lucrative is because we were once a nation that believed in God. Many people learned from the scriptures and it is a part of their culture to give to others whom they perceive as needy. I do agree that we should help those in need. In Jesus’s time on earth their was no government welfare department. Now as the sign I read said, there are government services available for those in need.
My biggest complaint about welfare is it primarily is designed to dole out money. More emphasis should be given to teaching people to be self sufficient. Remember the old saying that if you give a hungry man a fish he will be hungry again the next day. But if you teach him to fish he will be able to eat for a lifetime. If you give a beggar money he will be back the next day for more. God said to Adam and all his descendants ” by the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread” That means that everyone should work if they are able. I realize that is not a good argument to people who do not believe in God. So let us use another argument for non believers. The number of people who are idle and living on the government dole is growing daily. How much longer can you support these people and still have enough left, after taxes supporting the dole, to meet your own or family expenses?
This is an opinion blog for Conservatives and People of Faith