Most people feel that they should help the needy in some way or another. The problem is how to help them. This problem generally arises when there is a person sitting on the side of the road in battered clothes with a cardboard sign asking for some form of help, almost always in the form of money. Yet something makes the giver uneasy. What will they do with this money? Do they need this money? Will it really help them? The truth of the matter is, it won't. However, there are things that can be done to help the needy. Giving money to a reliable foundation will help the helpless, something that transferring money from a pocket to a man's tin can will never do.
So why shouldn’t people give money directly to pan-handlers? It is a common thought that the homeless will simply spend their hard “earned” money on cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. It is debated whether or not this belief is based on any truth or not. One group in San Francisco decided to find out. They found that “25 percent are alcoholics” and “32 percent are addicted to drugs” (Keyes) thus they claimed that the homeless are spending the majority of their profits on food. However, other surveys say that approximately “80% of people begging do so to support a drug habit” (Doward). So here are two sources that disagree with each other. Which one is valid? The first results were come by after a team of GLS researchers to survey the homeless people on the streets and came up with the results by their answers. The second conclusion was made by looking at police records. In places where it is illegal to panhandle, police would arrest the panhandlers and, among other things, preform a drug test on them. The results of the second statistics were deduced from these ...
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...s and those who know how to handle the situation accordingly. Don't hurt those who need help by giving them money, help those who are hurting by giving money to honourable helpers.
Works Cited
Doward, Jamie. “Charity for homeless tells people not to give money to beggars at Christmas”. The Observer. 18 Dec. 2010. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Keyes, Scott. “Everything You Think You Know About Panhandlers Is Wrong”. Think Progress. 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Lou, A. “Should I give money to homeless beggars, especially children?”. intentious. 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Malanga, Steven. “The Professional Panhandling Plague”. Summer 2008 vol. 18, no. 3. City Journal. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Mitchell, Joe. Interview. 6 Feb. 2014
Stallman, Richard. “Responding to Beggars”. Richard Stallman's personal site.. Web. 6 Feb. 2014
http://www.doe.org/rwa.cfm 6 Feb. 2014
All different ethical theories can look at the same problem and come to different conclusions. Even philosopher’s such as Singer and Arthur understand and view ethical values differently. Peter Singer who uses the utilitarian theory believes that wealthy people should give to the degree that the wealthy person now someone in need themselves. John Arthur believes those in need or those suffering are only entitled to the help of the wealthy person if that person agrees to help, and that the property rights of the wealthy person declines the amount that Singer believes people should. People should help other people. I believe all people deserve the right to receive assistance and to not help those people would be morally wrong. However, I do not believe that the help that we are morally obligated to give should come at the cost of our own well-being.
By handing out money to a beggar, you are “only saving yourself from annoyance…” (Pg. 15) Carnegie states that nobody improves by almsgiving for you will only aid the person’s addiction. As an advocate of Social Darwinism, Carnegie believed in competitive natures within his workers. He believed in a definite separation of classes and it was not only needed, but also
On Thursday October 31st, I attended a public service class where the professor had invited two spokesmen from the ‘National Coalition for the Homeless’ to share their personal stories and what the public can do to help.
In the article “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” Peter Singer argues that our conceptions on moral belief need to change. Specifically, He argues that giving to famine relief is not optional but a moral duty and failing to contribute money is immoral. As Singer puts it, “The way people in affluent countries react ... cannot be justified; indeed the whole way we look at moral issues-our moral conceptual scheme-needs to be altered and with it, the way of life that has come to be taken for granted in our society”(135). In other words Singer believes that unless you can find something wrong with the following argument you will have to drastically change your lifestyle and how you spend your money. Although some people might believe that his conclusion is too radical, Singer insists that it is the logical result of his argument. In sum, his view is that all affluent people should give much more to famine relief.
People tend to believe that homeless individuals will beg for money, only to spend it on drugs. Contrary to this, however, statistics prove otherwise. According to a recent survey across the United States, “94% of panhandlers”, or commonly known as the homeless, use the money that they receive to solely “purchase the food that they need” (Gaille). People who follow the folkway of avoiding eye contact need to understand that their donations are often for beneficial use. They also need to understand that avoiding eye contact is a means of ignorance.
In the essay “Spare Change”, the author, Teresa Zsuaffa, illustrates how the wealthy don’t treat people facing poverty with kindness and generosity, but in turn pass demeaning glares and degrading gestures, when not busy avoiding eye contact. She does so by writing an emotional experience, using imagery and personification whenever possible to get to the reader’s heart. Quite similarly, Nick Saul writes, in the essay “The Hunger Game”, about how the wealthy and people of social and political power such as “[the community’s] elected representatives” (Saul, 2013, p. 357) leave the problem of hunger on the shoulders of the foodbanks because they believe “feeding the hungry is already checked off [the government’s] collective to-do list” (Saul,
A Rebuttal of “Brother, Don’t Spare a Dime” In “Brother, Don’t Spare a Dime,” L. Christopher Awalt says that homeless people are homeless on their own accord. He believes “many of them seem to have chosen the lifestyles they lead” (Awalt))).. This article states that most homeless people would prefer to escape responsibility rather than fix their social and economic problems. Awalt uses an example of a man who had been on the streets for about 10 years. He provided this man with resources to improve his life and within four months he was making progress.
When government teacher Brett Boatman challenged his students to take on a cause and “make a difference”, LeighAnn was inspired. She decided her cause would be to help the homeless who endure drastic temperatures regularly and wonder what they’re going to be eating the next day. If they’re going to be safe.
We don’t necessarily have to donate money, but we can donate our time, and efforts to help those, and it will mean just as much. With volunteering at local organizations such as Salvation Army, the local women’s battered shelter, and the Look-Up Center. Salvation Army partners up with a organization called “Project Night Night” which helps the homeless children, and provides them with a blanket, stuffed animal and a book. “25,000 care packages the non-profit doles out each year aims to ease the psychological trauma homeless children suffer, while also promoting reading, and family bonding” (Goldburg par
There are currently over 200 million people living on this earth with no place to call their home. England contains a very small percentage of this population, around .002%, while its capital, London, holds an even smaller amount. This small amount is not surprising, because the United Kingdom has a very encompassing Safety Net. This Safety Net is in place to help those who are or are about to become homeless. In fact the United Kingdom’s Safety Net is one of the most comprehensive in the world (“Homelessness Facts and Figures”). Unfortunately many people still end up homeless, over 6,000 in the city of London. Many, more fortunate people, strive to help those sleeping on the streets, whether on their own or through a charity like St. Mungo’s on Broadway. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is an unfortunate amount of people who are not only apathetic, but cruel to the people left in a tough situation. These people, and all other people, are homeless too, searching to find a home in heaven. Humans are not
“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)
Benjamin Franklin once wrote “God helps those who help themselves.” However, in some cases, those who want help can’t actually help themselves. This is the sad reality of the homeless. Whenever a homeless person begs for money from the ground they slept on, I look at them for mere seconds and try to figure out their story. For some it’s easy to tell how they became homeless by the way they look. For example, they could have a physical handicap that limited their mobility so they couldn’t work. Maybe they appear as if they’ve abused drugs for years. However, for the remaining homeless that I’ve encountered, their story isn’t so obvious. They could have a mental illness, or simply had bad spending habits. Whether on the way to work or school, you will probably see a homeless person. They often stink up the area they are in and aren’t a pleasant sight. Solving the homeless problem would be in everyone’s best interest because it would make New York City more safe and enjoyable.
Howard, Barbara J. “Do What You Can for a Homeless Child.” Pediatric News June 2008: 16. Academic OneFile. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
Peter Singer said; “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (Famine, Affluence, and Morality). As human beings, we have a moral compulsion to help other people, despite the verity that they may be strangers, especially when whatever type of aid we may render can in no approach have a more significant consequence on our own life.
“Charity sees the need, not the cause.” (German Proverb) Many people may question “What is charity?” According to Webster’s dictionary, Charity is defined as the benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity. Charity to me is significant because it gives you a feeling of inner satisfaction while helping out your community as well. If you have the capability, then you should be able to share it with those less fortunate. The community we live in has a huge influence on us personally – it fosters safety, responsibility and sustainability – so it is important that we take our community seriously for the greater good of humanity and for our own personal benefit.