Mr Barkley is generous to homeless people. He tells a tale in his book "I May be Wrong, But I Doubt It": Michael saw him giving a homeless person some money, and told him not to do it. Said, "If they're able to ask you for some spare change, they can say, "Welcome to McDonald's, can I help you please?".
I went into a McDonalds (that I frequented in my employed days) to ask for an application. Not that I wanted to work at Mickey D's~do not have the stamina for that work now-a-days~but, like panhandling, a numbers game. The kid at the counter asked me if I spoke Spanish. When I said no, he said, they would not hire me and not to bother filling out an application. It is not in a predominantly Latino neighborhood, so this surprised me. He reluctantly gave the app to fill out. Was not called for an interview, but I did help me fulfill GR's requirements to fill out X number of job applications.
Panhandling is a last resort for most of the homeless people. There are exceptions, of course. Like Michael, most people make that mistake of judging others abilities. Mr. Barkley did not forget his roots, growing up poor, he understands, and acts accordingly. Might make a good people's governor, in this land of government, "of, for and by the people".
Believe it or not, thee homeless are people, too.
Posted on Sunday, Nov 26, 2006
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