Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Getting Panhandling Off the Streets

Here is a technological solution to panhandling:

image from the Marginal Revolution website


While handing money directly to a panhandler buys some moral sentiment from the giver, it is effectively hiring a class of people to stand on the streets and beg. I prefer to automate the begging and buy machines to stand in the streets and beg. Personally I'm happy with a government bureaucracy (or a non-profit organization) that takes on the task of using the proceeds to ensure that the donations find their way into needy hands and help buy needed provisions, clothing, and shelter (but not drugs & alcohol). I'm not a puritan, but I'm puritanical enough to want to redeem the sinner using wholesome means rather than drug-induced euphoria.

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