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Post by Admin on Sept 21, 2015 11:48:31 GMT -8
During third period last week, I thought we had a great discussion related to giving to those in need. We spoke about how many people worry about what those in need are actually going to do with their money. And, if you remember the video on poverty we watched, the video made the claim that giving to the poor keeps up the "separation" between "us and them".
So, my question: Should we continue to give money directly to the poor (ie: giving money to panhandlers with signs asking for cash)? Should we do something else instead?
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Post by Maddie Barrios on Sept 26, 2015 16:04:50 GMT -8
I don't think we should continue to give money directly to the poor because we aren't doing much to help their situation by doing so. While giving spare change may get them their next meal, it could also be used to get them their next high or bottle of alcohol, only worsening the cycle they may feel trapped in. I don't mean to imply every impoverished person is a user of some sort of substance, as I'm positive there are plenty of sober people out there who live in unfortunate circumstances. I'm only trying to make the argument that because we cannot know how they are going to spend that loose change, we do not know if it is really benefiting them and their financial state in any way. A few dollars isn't going to get them a place to stay and isn't going to provide stability in their life. I feel like there are so many other ways for people to contribute, that giving spare change is kind of an easy way out of helping people, in that it takes minimal amounts of effort and provides minimal results. If a person honestly felt the need to help the poor, then they should volunteer at local homeless shelters and kitchens or use those few dollars they felt inclined to give and donate it to organizations whose purpose is to help people get back on their feet.
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Post by Erika Escalona on Sept 26, 2015 19:20:27 GMT -8
Personally, it is hard for me not to give money to the poor directly because their plea is up and personal. It is kind of hard to not give some because right after you feel like your a bad person. You feel like you are being snobby with you money and too selfish to even give a dollar. Although Maddie makes a lot of sense in stating that giving money to them doesn't really resolve their problems and sometimes they just misuse the money. She is also right that it is much more helpful for one to help out in a shelter or something like that because it makes the most change. The only issue I'm having with this resolution is that not every homeless person will receive the help, and its just a once an a while thing. I mean giving a dollar to a homeless person will honestly not hurt anyone, so why not do it? Yes, they might misuse it but its not your fault because you gave it in the best intentions. And there's also a chance that you are just giving them enough money for their next meal, and that is the idea. A moment of kindness will not hurt anyone, in fact, it's only the beginning in making a change. This way we are extending our hand to the less fortunate, and not ignoring them in public. If we pretend that they are not there, we are only enlarging the gap between them and us because we are turning the blind eye towards them.
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Post by Sydney Livingston on Sept 26, 2015 20:59:37 GMT -8
I think that we should not continue to directly give money to the poor. People in poverty who chose to spend their time standing or siting in intersections or in crowded areas begging for money are not putting any effort in. Honestly every time I see a person begging for money on the side of the road, I ask myself why they are choosing to share their problems with the world, rather than applying for a minimum wage job or looking into other government support systems. I obviously don't know anything about them personally, but I think it isn't unreasonable to provide other options for them that at least require them putting in a little effort. Basically instead of trying to find other options, they decide to pity themselves and ask other people to give them money out of sympathy. In addition to this, having people stand in your way while you're sitting in traffic or coming out of the grocery store and ask for your money is very uncomfortable and makes people almost less inclined to give them money. All these panhandlers asking for cash are appealing to pathos or our emotional side. Instead of expressing what they will use this money for or how they will pick up their lives and help themselves, they tell the sad story of how they have a family and children who need food or that they are a war vet with no money and sometimes they will even bring their dogs because who wants to see a poor dog suffer. These things all make the average person feel sympathetic and want to give them money. But then this poses the question of what these people living on poverty will do with this direct cash. Few of these people will actually put it to good use and try to pull themselves out of poverty while the majority want direct cash in order to buy drugs and alcohol, which are probably part of the reason they are in poverty. This leads to my conclusion that yes I think we should find other ways for people to pull themselves out of poverty. There are already many government support systems to help these people in poverty. I think that we should encourage these people to go out and try to get a job rather than waste their time sitting on the streets begging. I strongly think we should avoid giving these panhandlers direct cash because there are many better ways to get them the necessary resources that will actually help get these people back on their feet.
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Post by Sydney Livingston on Sept 26, 2015 21:16:07 GMT -8
I agree with Maddie when she says "it could also be used to get them their next high or bottle of alcohol, only worsening the cycle they may feel trapped in." It is so easy for people in poverty to find comfort in drugs and alcohol which are completely addictive and almost always available in some way to them. Once they enter this cycle it is almost impossible to stop. So instead of trying to escape the poverty they are in, they will just keep using the money they receive to fulfill their addictive needs.
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Post by jessica90zamudio on Sept 26, 2015 22:11:03 GMT -8
I think we should give money to the poor it's just hard sometimes because I think it also depends upon the person because for people who earn their money working on TV shows it's easier and they earn more money than a person who works in the fields who earns there money in a more difficult and tedious manner. I think that we should because it may help them with their next meal or medicine. Although we may not know for sure the money is there to help. I think that although money does help we can help them by telling them of organizations or places where they can receive help. I also think that there should be more organizations and places where the people can receive help and find jobs because giving them money won't resolve all their problems.
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Post by jessica90zamudio on Sept 26, 2015 22:17:39 GMT -8
I disagree with Sydney and Maddie, I think we should give money to the poor even if thy do choose to use it in an unhealthy manner. The money that is given is given with the best intentions and it serves for their next meal , for medicine or for a bus ride and it's difficult to avoid and pass by for when one turns a blind eye it's like your just avoiding and adding to the issue litho ugh their are people on TV and all over that advise to give to charity and the poor when there are plenty of jobs working in the fields or doing other things but they choose not to. I also think that there should be other resources given like telling them where they can get help and advising them on what to do if they want to improve their lives.
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Post by savannahsmith on Sept 26, 2015 23:14:58 GMT -8
Why wouldn't we? Everyone needs money, and most of us always need more money; sharing money is the right and kind thing to do. I expect that as more students post we will separate into two groups: those who support direct donation and those who support donation through organization. Why can't we do both?
Directly donating to someone you meet on the streets is an instant solution to needs that call for instant attention. Food, clothes, health and hygiene supplies, demand immediate attention. While some may be skeptical of whether or not their money is going to good use, isn't it better to be safe than sorry? We trick ourselves into thinking that we have actually done someone a favor because they look like someone who abuses drugs/alcohol and we have "helped them on the path to sobriety." I'm sorry, but none of us can control anybody else's decisions. If someone is addicted they will find a way to get what they need, whether it is through the charity of others, or they rob someone. They will get it and there is nothing that we can do. Absolutely nothing, except maybe call the authorities or people who deal with this, but then again we can't do that either because we do not know any of these people personally. Any interpretation or "intuition" that we have about who is and is not abusing substances are only judgements that we have made about someone's physical appearance; it is common knowledge that it is more difficult to look clean and presentable and cute when you don't have access to any of the amenities you find in your average home.
Donating to an organization that helps the homeless on a long term basis is just as necessary and kind. While there are instant needs, there are also long term goals and desires. Donating periodically to a non-profit helps just as much, if not more. But we cannot only donate to these groups because unfortunately they cannot help everyone who needs assistance. These groups also choose who their provide aid for, which is discriminatory to those who need help as well. Usually it is because these people are not sober or cannot hold a job; but, how will they ever sober up or find stability if someone does not help them first? Ask yourself: who would want to be homeless, unemployed, and addicted to something? I certainly wouldn't, and would hope that those who are in a position to do so would show me some compassion if I was unable to solve my own problems. Not only does the evaluation of someone's need over someone else's demonstrate a lack of compassion, but it separates those in need from those who are not on an emotional level by permitting one party to play God in the other's life.
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Post by savannahsmith on Sept 26, 2015 23:34:06 GMT -8
Sydney:
How many places are going to give a job to someone who has no permanent residence, or don't have access to personal hygiene amenities? When reviewing a job application most people are looking not only for skill but commitment and stability; someone who will show up on time everyday and do their job everyday. How can someone without a home or money for transportation be expected to have 'stability'? And what about after they've turned in their application and they're waiting to hear back? Where do they go? What do they do? They still need money (which they do not have) to survive. Yes, government programs are in place to help people find work. The United States Health and Human Services program is trying to help everyday, but they simply cannot help everyone, nor can they do it on their own.
Also, one is less likely to "feel uncomfortable" when someone is asking for money if money is actually given. I think everyone feels uncomfortable sometimes walking around downtown, but I do not think that this is rooted from annoyance or anger towards the homeless, but more of a nervousness for seeing someone so vulnerable. Especially since we are so young, there is something that makes me personally feel a little embarrassed to be giving money to someone much older than me.
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Post by maggiemiller on Sept 27, 2015 10:38:36 GMT -8
I do not think we should continue to give money to the poor. Instead we should be helping to clean them up and preparing them for job interviews. Why should we have to give them money when it looks as though they are not even trying to make a life for themselves? Obviously something led them to the point where they could not care for themselves, and it is not our job to support them when they didn't work to keep their life on track. Also, there are several programs such as Habitats for Humanity that are based off the amount of work you put in. They can ask for a house and as long as they put in at least 500 hours, they can get the house completely paid for and ready to go. I understand this will not take care of all the people in poverty, but I think it shows that if they did want to work they could go out and do something for themselves. We are all working as hard as possible in high school to get into a good college and hopefully from there get a good job because something good will happen to you if you work hard, so obviously the people asking for money on the streets missed a step of that.
Don't get me wrong, if someone feels like donating they are totally free to do so, it is their money to give away, and I have done it before, but they should not be relying on getting money from other people to pay for their next meal. I do think it is important to start getting them back on their feet, but I do not think that by us giving them a dollar or two they are going to be stable again. Especially when we don't know where that money is going, it would be a lot more beneficial to give them a meal or water directly because that is the real help they need. They might feel that drugs or alcohol is the way to avoid being sad, when in reality we just need to get them back on their feet. Giving them money is not as beneficial as people think it is, there are several other things that can be done to better stabilize them and care for them.
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Post by maggiemiller on Sept 27, 2015 10:46:24 GMT -8
Savannah, back to your comment to Sydney, that is clearly the problem then. Giving them a couple dollars is not going to get them a house or better prepare them to get a job. They need to work and show that they are hard workers. You said they want someone who will show up on time and do their job, what makes you think the people who really need money are not going to do this? That is the real problem, that people think they will not do that, so even though you are saying they need to be treated fairly and cared for, you are also now saying that they will not get a job because they aren't hardworking? That just doesn't make sense at all. And if they are living on the street, they could live close to their job allowing them to get there and work hard all day to get as much money as possible. Also, what else do they have to do with their day, beg for money? No, they will get more for working. I completely agree with Sydney, helping them get a job will be way more beneficial than giving them some money. A job will stabilize them and give them money at the same time.
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Post by Ryan F. on Sept 27, 2015 11:04:09 GMT -8
I don't think that we should just hand out money to the poor. This is because The homeless can unwisely use this money to buy alcohol instead of food. This is why I think it would be best to just give them what they need to get back on there feet. I would hand out food, if they say they need food, and I would hand out toothpaste if they say they need toothpaste. For bigger things they Need it would be wise to establish a coalition of people to help for certain needs. Like for instance if they need a house, hear in Santa Cruz county it costs a lot, but if you get everyone within the county to pay 1 $ you might be able to get a house for them. This is a much better alternative to just handing out money. Just give them what they need be kind and help without looking down upon them.
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Post by Sachi Land on Sept 27, 2015 14:50:24 GMT -8
I don't believe that people should give direct cash to the poor, but I do think people should still give to those in need.
Every year, I do this program called Adopt-A-Family with my grandma where we but Christmas presents for those who can't afford them. What we can give them is very restricted however because the people often end up using the gifts for bad purposes, like drugs and alcohol. One time, I saw a man begging for money on the street, and then two minutes later pull out a iPhone.
I am in no way saying that all people in need just do bad things with things they are given; however, it happens often enough that the money people are given is used to end up do doing the opposite of helping them. Money is a way of giving that can end up harming the person further, and has no guaranteed results that it will be put to good use.
Instead, I think people should donate to charities or give people their basic needs, not just cash. Give a homeless man a sandwich! Volunteer in a soup kitchen! There are other ways to help people that make sure the results are beneficiary and healthy. Just giving cash isn't a good idea.
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Post by Sachi Land on Sept 27, 2015 14:54:24 GMT -8
I see Sydney's point when she says, "People in poverty who chose to spend their time standing or siting in intersections or in crowded areas begging for money are not putting any effort in. Honestly every time I see a person begging for money on the side of the road, I ask myself why they are choosing to share their problems with the world, rather than applying for a minimum wage job or looking into other government support systems." I have more respect for the homeless people that have signs that read "I will work" than those that say "I need money". There isn't a ton some people can do, but it is their responsibility to help themselves, and they should treat it as such without begging others to do every part of it for them.
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Post by paigedueck on Sept 27, 2015 16:31:47 GMT -8
We should not give the poor directly even if it is so hard to not do so. Whenever I pass by homeless people with signs that read "hungry and jobless-can't feed family," I always feel bad when I don't give them money. However, after a while, I realize that most people who don't give money are doing the right thing even though at the moment it seems like a jerk move. You don't know what those homeless people are going to do with that money. Someone said in our conversation about poverty that you don't know if "a homeless person will use the money for drugs or for actual necessities." This is very true in that no one can ever really trust the beggars and if they are even telling the truth on their cardboard signs in the first place. Our government should keep providing the poor with organizations that aid them such as second harvest food bank or project homeless connect. However, the government should work on keeping beggars off the street because it does just keep a gap between the poor and the blessed. The only way to actually help the poor is to "break the walls down" that separate the poor from the luckier people as the video we watched said, and we can do that by promoting the aiding organizations we already have.
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