The nine circles of hell

But...
Things were even worse 100-150 years ago. 15 million were starving, more slums, more deprivation. It's the same old shit but we've become more sensitive to the wrongness of it. But still poor people vote for the parties aligned with the robber baron bandits because "they're better at running the economy". Sure they are, but they're not running it for the benifit of all, or society in general or even a majority of people.
There is no shortage of money, being made, it's just barrowed out of the uk at a sprint or hoarded for the benefits of comparatively few people. Same old same old with ever changing disguises.

That's true but massive changes have occurred in the last 100 years to enslave people even more to the capitalist model of living.

Cars. The ultimate freedom ? So that's the ultimate freedom to pay money for something you really should not need. Handy tool to work on peoples status anxiety "oh dear the neighbour has a better car than me I feel so inferior". Nobody needs a flash car. Totally unnecessary product.

Electricity, gas etc. Impoves comfort level and allows you to pay for something you do not need.

Telecommunications. Encourages people to move away from each other and still be able to talk. Totally unnecessary but very useful for controlling peoples behaviour.

Internet. Another tool to enslave the masses. That's capitalism gone mad. Deliberately damage the population just for money.

Eco worrying. Encourage people to worry about the planet so they pay money for things they don't need. The planet can look after itself ffs !


Same old shit yes but much more devious and modernised.

Less people in "poverty" but that's in large part due to the welfare state which is a crowdfunded security service where wealthy people take money from the pockets of the average working man (or woman) to give to the "poor" to keep them in their place and reduce the motivation to go and break down the doors of the wealthy. All dressed up as a nice caring society looking after vulnerable people.

Bollocks !

It appears clear to me, that many of these homeless are genuine.

There are some around the busy shopping areas who are begging, with lengthy hand written boards, interacting with those who pass by, clean and well dressed. They appear to be begging 'as an option'. I have no evidence other than my own observations.

Then there are those, usually young men and women, who are filthy (and smell it) with a tent (if fortunate) sleeping bag, and bags of possessions.

They tend to look disconnected with the world, and are not actively begging (no signs or interaction). Many appear understandably, to be in the depths of depression.

I truly cannot see anyone 'acting' the part of the latter group.

I cannot begin to think how we can possibly help them. The couple of quid I can afford to give them will go nowhere.

Rog

Simple answer

Never give anything to someone begging. If everyone followed this advice there would be no beggars.

It seems simplistic but the fact is that humans have survival instinct like all animals. They won't just die.