While in SF this past January I walked by numerous panhandlers until I found three that were actually singing for their money. They were good too so I gave them 3 or 4 dollars, whatever singles I had anyway.

I at least wanted to wait until I found someone that wanted to put a little effort in being a bum.

Most of the hobos who panhandle for money around the Plaza in KC are smoking cigs while holding their little signs saying "Homeless and hungry, God bless." If you watch them long enough, they'll panhandle for a while, then go over and sit with their other hobo friends and drink beer through the day. Pretty rough...

Many of the people I worked in the office with complain about money. I used to wonder why they ate out for lunch every day and all had cable and Netflix, etc. I brought in my lunch every day, 2 PBJs and a ziploc of chips I divided from a big bag. It wasn't until recently that we bought cable. We went to the library and got shows and movies for free. And I know that our household combined income was higher that most of my coworkers.

I'm a charitable person, probably to a fault.

Here is an example of what happens when you help the poor.
I've been mowing a couple of yards since 07-08 for up to 3 elderly people.
One who lives across the street knocked on my door and asked me to do it "as a gift" because they couldn't afford it. I wanted it mowed, so I've been doing and have received a grand total of 1 thank you in 3 summers.

Last week my home phone started getting messages from the guy, and one from his wife whom I've never seen in 4 years(Gilbert Grape's mama). "Our daughter is moving home to help my sick wife and you, our dear friend, said you would help, so come and help move her stuff into the house saturday"....8 days in a row of messages, of which I've never agreed to do. Progressively more demanding..."so be here at 8am, because our daughter will be tired". The old man says, as the wife bellows 1000wpm in the background on the messages.....

I'm out in a poker game until 3am saturday morning, but get up at 7 because I've got a long list of things to do at my home and the family is gone. 8am, not there, 9am, not there......so I begin on my projects, new light fixtures, interior door, fixing the odds and ends stuff I can't do when the family is home.

It's hot...12:30 I look out, and it's not a pickup, but a Uhaul van truck backed up to their house. I go over and find one other sucker, sweating trying to unload this truck. Guilt kicks in, and I tear into a pile of boxes to pack up the stairs(everything goes to 2nd floor).

I get to the top of the stairs and have 3 choices of rooms. I hear conversation and step to the room to find 2 fat hogs who look like bullfrogs sunning themselves stretched out on their backs on a bed. One points to the other room without saying a word.

The other man and I unload the entire truck, while the old man attempts to help but physically can't....and the entire time, via a hallway, I can see Gilbert Grape's mama's Arm hanging off of a chair with a soda and her leg....and a 60" big screen. She's bitching about 500mph because the truck isn't unloaded fast enough, we're letting air out because I had to take the door off to get the F'ing sofa indoors and up the stairs.

Eventually we get everything unloaded in the sweltering heat......not 1 box..not a single box was carried by the 2 sows who now live across the street with the old people.

I'm pissed, have the truck unloaded and am putting the door back on, when one of the bullfrog twins trots to the door and starts in about how I need to put in the window AC in her room and switch headboards and on....and I finally have my fill and say "you know what, you are rested up enough to handle that shit yourself.

4 people in that home....not 1 thank you.

I've been mowing their yard for free for 3 years, they've got a bigger TV than I do. Ask for help, but bitch while I litterally do it all.


In short....This guy, is NOT feeling very sympathetic to the plight of people who don't take care of themselves.

And yes....Their AC was running to keep that house cooler than I can keep mine.

Cause doin it on your own makes you feel good about yourself and misery loves company.

All rough estimates but:

$5(pack of cigs) a day x 365days = $1825

$20(case of beer) a week x 52weeks = $1040

$35(bag of weed) a week x 52weeks = $1820

That comes to a total of $4685 annually, all bad habits that do nothing but harm. And for what? To be cool, hip, social?

Not worth it to me.

I would agree with most of that, but believe your beer estimate is low. I no longer drink like I used to, but when I was "poor" in America I would go through at least 3 or 4 cases of beer a week, so, I would say the $4685 annually is a very conservative estimate.

I know some poor people that always drive a decent car because family/friends get alot more joy giving their stuff away than doing it for themselves. Damn enablers.

+1

You can go places like this and get rewarded for being poor.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VHEoevEN8...ebt%2Bcard.jpg
You get a FREE PEPSI HAT for using your EBT card!

While you're there, and still poor, you can buy a few small items to take home and try and feed your family.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-la6cLNCFQx...arereceipt.jpg

Oh, and living poor in the U.S. is living like a king here. In my house I have a window A.C. unit in my bedroom that never gets used (even though the highs here are almost always above 90), 1 color T.V. (once again, never gets used), and a water heater (most people only have cold water here). I only have Internet at work, because I run an internet cafe. To top this all off, with my house, my internet, I am said to be living like a king with all my creature comforts, and I am very happy with how little I have.

Good on you.

Give them a break, that's work.

It's not quantity, it's quality. :thumb:

[QUOTE=4th and Long;7756915]You can go places like this and get rewarded for being poor.QUOTE]

What makes them poor in the first pic? That tractor costs more than some people's houses so I know that isn't it.