By all means...put people to work. Anybody that's got two good arms and two good legs and won't work if it's offered to them is obviously not worth giving money to. If I'm holding a sign and somebody offers me cash to do some work for them, I'll jump right in immediately. I'd rather do some work for a twenty dollar bill and feel like I have some self respect than get it handed to me while I'm holding a sign.
Also, remember that the disabled guys standing (or sitting) out there are almost definitely getting a disability check...especially vets. Not to mention free housing, medical benefits, and food stamps. Sometimes, it's the people who look like they need it the least who need it the most. But definitely put 'em to work if they can work.
This is just not true. If you get SSI then you are immediately cut off of food stamps, at least in CA. And you don't get free housing either. Bums may get cheap government subsidized housing but they will never have more than a few hundred a month to live on after rent is paid. As for whether people spend their money on alcohol, why does that matter? Even though it's really unhealthy, alcohol is sometimes the only thing that keeps someone's brain chemistry stabilized enough to function on a basic level. I used to smoke weed every day to deal with depression and, honestly, I was a lot easier to be around high than when I was sober. I'm not currently using at anywhere near that level, but only because of years of experimenting with finding the right food and supplements in order to wean myself off it. So I'm not going to judge someone who is just trying to survive without being miserable, especially if they're poor and uneducated about holistic health. Most people just tell bums to get on the right psych meds but how is that any better? Those drugs typically cause a lot more cognitive damage than alcohol does, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure and all kind of other problems. Psych drugs also shut off the creative process entirely so forget about it if you're an artist. Veterans, particularly, need something to cope with trauma issues, and so does virtually anyone else who has lived outside with no other options for any length of time. Also, not everyone asking for money spends it on drugs. For the last couple years I was traveling I spent all the money people gave me almost exclusively on either food or basic gear like good shoes or a sleeping bag.Also, remember that the disabled guys standing (or sitting) out there are almost definitely getting a disability check...especially vets. Not to mention free housing, medical benefits, and food stamps. .
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