Do you think that helping the homeless and feeding the hungry, is the government

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   Penny Gposted 10 years ago

   Do you think that helping the homeless and feeding the hungry, is the governments responsibility
   
   or do you think the Churches should be doing this?

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   peeplesposted 10 years ago

   It's everyone's responsibility, but since so many are greedy or refuse to help, yes I think it is the governments responsibility. There is a large misconception that the people who need the help just don't want to help themselves. That is usually not the case at all, and if provided with the right help these people could succeed. Very few people deserve to be homeless or hungry, and the ones that do deserve it are fed three meals a day and provided shelter. Makes no sense!

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3. 58

   mio cidposted 10 years ago

   We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world,there is no justification for there being homeless and hungry people.If there are,...... And there are, it's because there is something fundamentally wrong with the system and it is absolutely the government's responsibility and obligation to ensure some of the country's citizens aren't left to die of hunger ,illness or hypothermia.

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   DowntroddenInDCposted 10 years ago

   I think everyone should try to be a better neighbor. Churches and government have their place in society, but to make a better society we need better people. To become a better person you should be willing to help those around you. That means helping change a stranger's tire or sharing a meal with a homeless person. It's not the money or thing you offer, but the intimacy of making a connection with someone different from you who is down on their luck. If more people did these sorts of things I think we'd have a much better world to live in. It may not cure homelessness, but it puts a much realer face on what the homeless are and helps us better figure out how to combat it (that's where the churches and government can come in and really do their part.)

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      Penny Gposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well said. I for one travel with a full car of seasonal items, medical kit, clothes, food, drink, hat gloves whatever the weather and season calls for. I keep lots of things that someone may need. God guides me in these thoughts.

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   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   I commend all of you for good answers. Now if you extend that help to people who were once our enemies, the Japanese, the Germans, the Italians, the Vietnamise, the Chinese and maybe the Afgans, is the answer the same. Another question being debated I think would unfortunately disagree.

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   Sri Tposted 10 years ago

   Help them to help themselves. Unless they change the way they think and how they deal with people, they have no hope. People are making millions and billions of dollars every year in America because they know how, they have the desire and the business knowledge. Not necessarily college, but business information and products to sell.  Without the right instructions, you can't get very far. You can't give people determination. There is nothing wrong with a handout, but it should not be for a lifetime. Some new training has to be involved, some new psychology or philosophy. Everybody's life depends on their thoughts, their training, their ability to persuade or sell others, their determination and persistence. The mind is very powerful and can do anything if you know how to use it properly.

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      DowntroddenInDCposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed, give a man a fish he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime! However, some homelessness is linked to mental health issues, so a rational answer may not solve an irrational person's problems.

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   chef-de-jourposted 10 years ago

   I think everyone has to play a part. Government meddling in certain areas of life can be annoying and have a negative effect but I think in the case of homeless people there should be some involvement from the authorities. In an indirect way I think this is already happening. When a homeless person becomes sick or a public nuisance, police and medical people have to step in and that means public money has to be spent - here in the UK, not sure about the US or elsewhere -  and that means the government antennae are activated for sure.
   If there are too many homeless people this issue becomes political and then you'll see governments acting alright!
   But private individuals and charities have to play a big role, and do, and carry out brilliant work on the streets and in shelters and what not. It's surely a sign of a civilised and compassionate society when the down and outs are at least given a chance to be rehabilitated and helped onto the ladder of progress.
   I think all governments should have a responsible last resort department - when all else fails - a duty to help anyone who falls foul of the system. This has nothing to do with politics but more to do with humanitarian aid! After all, aren't governments supposed to reflect and represent the views of the majority - in a democracy at least - and the majority of people would always help to home someone and to keep them fed.
   In the end we all have to keep helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

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   Grey Templesposted 10 years ago

   The government won't help because they have announced that being homeless is against the law and feeding the homeless in public places such as at a park is also against the law - go figure.  The homeless have to eat at non profit soup kitchen which solely rely on donations from people.  These donations come from regular people like you and me and some restaurants and grocery stores.  The rich wouldn't be caught dead in a soup kitchen.  Shows you who has more compassion - regular people who do not have much themselves.

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   mikejhcaposted 10 years ago

   I think helping the homeless and feeding the hungry is the governments responsibility but not directly. The government should do things that are good for the economy so there are fewer poor people. Helping the homeless and feeding the hungry with money from taxes is bad for the economy. It leads to higher taxes.
   
   In my opinion the government should be trying to keep the unemployment rate down. Churches and charities should be helping the homeless and feeding the hungry. The government should also help but they need to be careful because they are taking money from businesses and people.
   
   It is better for people to give money away to help the homeless and feed the hungry then to have it taken from them. When companies move away or close down people lose their jobs.

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    JulieMProvostposted 10 years ago

    It should be both. Government programs should be there to help when people can't.

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