Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
Corn is almost as bad. Geese eat mostly seeds, plant roots, berries, whole raw fresh grains (grasses) and stems, and insects.
No need to give homeless people money, but sometimes it's a good thing to offer a kindness - simply because you're a human being connecting with another human being. If you bought a case of water, give them a bottle of it. If you bought a box of protein bars, give them a bar. If you bought a 12-pack of Ivory soap, give them a bar. If you bought a box of tampons, offer the young woman a few. When you get free sanitizing wipes from the Freeosk booth, give it to the person out there. Maybe if there's a BOGO on cheap toothbrushes, get them - and give one to one of those people out there.
Up north we had deposits on cans and plastic bottles - some folks - when they're parking downtown for whatever reason, would gather whatever empties they tossed in the back seat, into a plastic bag, and just give the whole bag to a random homeless person sitting in the park. We get rid of our empties, and they have to actually work for their dollar. Win-win for everyone.
There was also a program downtown that many restaurants participated in. Customers could buy credits, that would be given to homeless people in exchange for a bite to eat (a cup of hearty soup and bread, or a small salad) or a cold/hot drink.
|
IMO I concur with the last 2 paragraphs. No one (at least not me) is questioning the "goodness" of being properly (?) charitable. The question REALLY debated here IS what is the "PROPER" way to be charitable. For example, I feel GREAT and charitable when I give an item to a THRIFT store. I see that the good of that OUTWEIGHS any possible downside at about a 95% to 5% rate. The 5% is JUST a POSSIBILITY that a particular thrift store is connected to some church character like in the Elmer Gantry movie that is sucking money out of people just for personal greed.
....the point of that IS that each person makes a RISK calculation when they give money (not food or water) to a homeless person - or even money to a national charity. How much is the money you give do you (the giver) think goes to good, or waste, or even greed and bad (that is the RISK CALCULATION)?
.....Many a TRULY good person IS so GOOD or NAIVE that they don't bother to look for any unintended consequences of their action (the giving). I am NOT TRULY good and I tend to be suspicious snd look for the unintended results of mine and other people's actions - even US leaders!