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Should you give money to people begging on the streets? (hexbear.net)

submitted 10 months ago by idkmybffjoeysteel@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net

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I really want an answer to this from people who are not reddit-brained libs. I have seen some good points elsewhere about this contributing to a cycle of abuse and control, causing parents to withdraw their kids from school to beg instead, etc., but if someone is desperate enough to humiliate themselves by begging on the street, shouldn't we give to them? Or should I feel bad that I did give to them?

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[–] macerated_baby_presidents@hexbear.net 8 points 10 months ago

I don't think you should feel bad for giving to people begging. I budget some money for this purpose. But giving money to poor people will not end poverty; ending capitalism will. The bulk of your available time and effort is probably better used fighting for structural solutions. So I don't think there's a moral obligation to like, seek out individual homeless people to give money to or something like that, but you are probably obligated to work towards eviction protections and public housing and stuff.