Edmonton City Park Rangers are getting calls to evict the homeless who have set up tents in the river valley.  This doesn't happen only in the Great White North.  Many America cities are asking their citizens to give to charities instead of the panhandlers they see on the street.  Apparently, these charities will then take care of the panhandlers by providing them with food, shelter and help getting work.

I see a lot of panhandlers.  If I have it, I give them a dollar because it might be Jesus in disguise, and I'm not religious.  I know that that dollar will go further in the panhandler's hand than any government coffer.  I'm estimating that 30 cents out of any dollar I give to the government, and most charities, will go to the homeless.  The rest will go to pay for agencies and their staff and their buildings and their pensions and their committees to study the homeless problem.

I don't see a lot of government agencies that point the way to food for the homeless or shelter.  Maybe the street crowd knows where to go.  Maybe a nice, helpful police officer will guide them.

And yes, I've heard the story about how many hundreds of dollars these panhandlers make a day.  And that's all I think it is - a story.  Yes, I know they will probably spend it on liquor and drugs.  They certainly can't afford to pay a mortgage, or rent a room or buy a refrigerator full of food.  But maybe some will go for food and a tent.  And maybe the sheer act of generosity accompanied with a "God Bless" will be the motivation to start from wherever they are in their lives and move forward.

But the homeless stand on their corner, holding out a sign and they don't bother anybody.  If they get some spare change, they say "Thank you" or more often, "God bless."  The government is busy telling me what to do with the money I have left after they have taxed my work, my home, my car, my savings and the list goes on.

The homeless don't want to bother anyone and they don't want to be bothered, but the park rangers destroy their tents in the river valley because some citizens complain.  I guess those citizens on their phones in their homes with full refrigerators and jobs to go to have run out of things to do.  Imagine if the homeless destroyed a citizen's home or car or business.

The homeless just want a dollar.  Citizens want them off the streets.  Governments want them in their agencies which will give them better statistics to  demand more tax money.

I don't have to give a dollar to the homeless.  But the government will reach into my pocket and take my money.  I have no choice.