Beggers or Con Artists

Often when people sue it is basically just another way to get money. These days a lot more people are in need of money and they are going to drastic measures to get it. Have you ever seen people standing in intersections begging for money? These people are called panhandlers. Often, they stand around at the same intersection day in and day out. Just yesterday I saw two people standing in the same intersection but on opposite sides of the street. In the time that I was sitting at the red light two people gave the man money. I don't know how you all feel about this but I have a hard time justifying donating money to a panhandler. I have these preconceived notions that all panhandlers to is take the money and dig themselves deeper into their hole of poverty. I have often wanted to bring them food but am afraid to do so. As I was on my way to Starbucks I was tempted to buy an extra coffee for the man but I could not bring myself to do so. This could just be me being scared but I cannot bring myself to donate to the cause of a panhandler. Donating to charity is something that I am very passionate about but for some reason I find this to be drastically different. I realize that there are many many people out there who actually do need the help. Unfortunately, too many people beg for money when in reality they need help instead. I don't know how it is in other places but in St. Louis County it seems that the same people beg on the same corners every day. Always seeing the same people discourages me even more from giving them money. To know that these people are not doing anything to help themselves makes me kind of mad. I would like to see a decline in the amount of panhandlers that stand on corners. I don't know what the solution would be but it is getting ridiculous.