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I have two children that I plan to keep off the streets by putting every spare penny away for their college fund. I know a few bucks here and there won't count for much in the grand scheme of things, but with my children looking on, I just can't bring myself to teach them that getting money for simply having your hand out is OK.
On the other hand, I give to charity generously whenever I see a collector for abused wives and children or a shelter that needs supplies; when don't they?
I used to work in a popular fast food restaurant as a teen. The local panhandlers would come into our restaurant to buy pizza and beer, then "make use" of the bathroom with their shaving kit and scissors, often bathing themselves from the small sink and ALWAYS leaving a mess. The roll of 20s, 10s and 5s that was pulled out to buy their weekly pizza meal was staggeringly huge. On that note, you'd think they'd be more careful, so as not to attract attention to the fact that one's life savings are kept in a backpack. <shrug>
As for West Coast rudeness... I've experienced enough of that from panhandlers to look them dead in the eye and tell them that all my money goes to my kids. No one has said anything to the contrary and only one has ever complimented me on my decision to look after my children first. Besides, how many times can you hear that someone's wife and kids are "around the corner" and that they need "just a few dollars for gas" before your calluses become brick walls?
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