Homeless People

Homeless people (or hobo's). Depending on the individual, a non-hobo will either say they are a nuisance, a functional member of society who refuses to do nothing, or they have just been put in a really sad situation so we should give them our money. Yeah, we totally don't need our money.

I am on the "they are functional members of society who refuse to do anything" wagon. In the downtown area of where I live, it is not uncommon to see hobos with a Tim Horton's coffee cup asking for some spare change, yelling profanities at you when you don't give them change, washing your windows at busy intersections, and just bitching about something. My problem is this - why can't they do something for themselves instead of making themselves the taxpayer's problem? I'm all for helping those who are seriously in need - the sick, the immobile, the handicapped (not including the ones who claim they're handicapped because they let themselves get too fat), but not those who can do something for themselves.

I really don't care what excuse they give. If you can move and talk, you can get yourself to a computer (the public library has these) or a career counselor (some of which are free) and get yourself a fucking job. Garbage collector, janitor, whatever. They need to have respect for themselves which they CAN NOT gain if we, the people who work the 9-5 busting our asses off, give them even a penny of our money.

Again, I know there are exceptions to this rant. I know there are people out there who are mentally ill or have some other kind of legitimate handicap. The others though? They're asking for our money because they know they can guilt us. We're Canadians. We're nice. Too nice. But my point here is that by being the person who gives the able bodied people money for no service, we are actually aiding their own personal regression. How can a person feel good about themselves taking money from a stranger who worked their ass off for that money? Without self confidence, you gain nothing. With it, the world is in your hands.

So next time you walk by a hobo and don't give them your change - don't feel bad about yourself. Don't think you did anything wrong. Just hope that they'll eventually come to a point when they feel they can do something for themselves. You don't have to. Don't get involved. Be nice. Be a Canadian.