Fox News Stossel poses as homeless man: ‘You shouldn’t give to these street people’

Fox Business host John Stossel says he recently dressed up as a homeless person and begged for money to prove that “you shouldn’t give money to these street people.”

“Yes, we are turning into a nation of freeloaders,” Stossel told the co-hosts of Fox & Friends on Thursday. “Because you feel like a sucker if you’re not when government keeps offering you stuff.”

In an effort to prove that freeloading was a lucrative pastime, the libertarian host said he recently posed as a homeless person as stunt for his Fox Business show. In the video clip, Stossel can be seen wearing a fake beard and dirty clothes. He asks people passing on the street to put money in his Styrofoam cup while he holds a sign that reads, “Homeless & Cold: Anything will help, please. God bless.

(Source)


With everything going on in this country I'm glad Stossel is focusing on this. It takes a true American to point out the real problems with society, and that problem is the homeless! Who do they think they are? Do they think they can just beg for money without working for it?! I think not!


Sarcasm aside, a large percentage of homeless people are war veterans or have a mental disorder. You see, the ones who make it home get cast aside like garbage even though they were supposed to be taken care of. Infact, one in 3 homeless Americans is a veteran.

The ones with mental disorders are untouchables as well. It should be noted that Reagan was instrumental in creating a huge portal of the homeless population by helping to get rid of mental institutions.

While Stossel points out that alot of homeless people have a drug or alcohol problem, that doesn't mean we should criminalize their behavoir, but rather, try to help them get well. Of course this is all based on the assumption that we actually want to help the homeless by ensuring there are less of them, and not using them as a scapegoat while billionare sociopaths get a free pass.

I live in New York City, there are a ton of homeless people here. Every time I give them change I don't think about what they want to use it for. If they want to buy food with it great, if they want to use drugs that's fine too...it's their choice and now their money. However, the government needs to be doing A LOT more to help these people get out of these situations.

I see women with young children begging in the subway, war veterans, children, elderly...people from all walks of life. And they have been put in their living situation partly by their choices in life, but also due to our collective choices (government, economy etc.) And despite that fact, we need to be helping them get back on their feet, not because they're citizens, countrymen but because they're people in suffering.

My new career.

reply to post by goldcoin


Yes. One thing that America can always use is a bigger government. That always solves the problem. Since The Great Society was begun almost a half century ago trillions of dollars have been spent to eradicate poverty and it has been a huge success. Oh wait, there's more poverty now thatn ever. Nevermind.

reply to post by v1rtu0s0


Just another example of the hateful, closed-minded Conservative agenda of Fox "News." Did you know that they are listed with FCC as an "Entertainment" channel?

People should have seen the truth when their motto was "We report. You decide." If something is true and reported with facts then it isn't up to the population to decide if it is true.

“Truth is not determined by majority vote.” - Doug Gwyn

I was walking into the grocery store a few years back and this homeless guy asked me for money.
(This was before I knew crucial rules on giving money to homeless).
I give him a couple dollars and I continue in the grocery store and get my things. On the way out;as I was walking through the parking lot, I saw the same homeless man opening up the trunk of his Corvette and loading all of his bum gear in it. I thought to myself (What a bastard).

I heard of another news reporter in my local area who did the same thing(got all bum'd up) and proceeded to ask for money.
In less then 4 hours, she had over $350.

(this is where the rules of giving to the homeless comes into play).

- If you aint limpin-I aint trippen.
- If you dont have a baby- I aint gunna give you my gravy.
- If you are wearing brand new Nikes'- Ima spit on ya as I turn right.
- If you aint missing a kidney- You aint gettin no nickey.

-note- If I can see they truly need it- Im always more than willing to spread some love.
but dont expect handouts when you are comming at me all fake. thats how you get pennies thrown at you.

Originally posted by Numbers33four
reply to post by goldcoin

 

Yes. One thing that America can always use is a bigger government. That always solves the problem

Well if the American people aren't doing enough to combat it, what's wrong with the government trying to solve it? I'll never understand people who complain about a problem, but never do anything to fix it and then complain about the government intervening or people thinking the government should intervene.

Homelessness and poverty is a real problem. I don't care who is working to solve it, be it religious organizations, secular charities, neighborhood communities, or the government. Something has got to be done. Perhaps if we all started working together rather than chastising those who are working to solve the problem more would get done. Perhaps if we did our part and the charities did their part and the religious organizations did their part and the government did their part and we all supported each other's efforts instead of complaining and tearing each other down, we could work to solve this growing problem!

Originally posted by Numbers33four
reply to post by goldcoin

 

Yes. One thing that America can always use is a bigger government. That always solves the problem. Since The Great Society was begun almost a half century ago trillions of dollars have been spent to eradicate poverty and it has been a huge success. Oh wait, there's more poverty now thatn ever. Nevermind.

There is more poverty now more than ever because there is nobody regulating wall street.

Stossel is a rich A-hole who thinks anyone who's poor is trash and must be trying to game the system somehow - talking about his beach house and how he collected federal insurance on it & then turning around in the same breath and saying you shouldn't give to "these street people" insinuating they're all druggies and drunks.

go Stossel
demonize our damaged troops on the down and out ... while, at the same time, he supports giving BILLIONS to encourage illegal immigrants in every corner of this nation.
yeppers, he reallly knows what's important

Why does it bother me that good-willed people minding their own, walking down the street gave their money to some fake posing as a person in need.

It just doesn't fly with me.

Originally posted by yourmaker
Why does it bother me that good-willed people minding their own, walking down the street gave their money to some fake posing as a person in need.

It just doesn't fly with me.

Your generalizing them as "fakes." What about the real homeless? And why do you care what people do with their pocket change? They do a good job wasting their money as it is...

Look I know there are alot of good hearted people in here and in the world who want to help others but the panhandlers in downtown chicago are a nasty breed, let me tell you one of their stories. There is this guy who panhandles in downtown chicago, he uses a wheelchair and comes out in morning suits in his wheelchair and holds his tin cup all shakey, with his head down, when you go up and speak to him, he lifts his head in such a way that you would think he has some kind of muscular disorder, when he lifts his head to look at you he pretends to be so weak that he can barely lift his head, and after he has been panhandling tool after the lunch hour is over, he gets up and pushes his wheelchair away from the restraunts over to the train station so he can hit everyone up again as their getting out of work and getting on the train to go home. And that is only one of the stories that I have about these scam artists, and the really sad part is that I have dozens of stories just like that one about panhandlers in chicago, like I said its nice to want to help other people but most of these people have nothing wrong with them, they just know that they can play on peoples emotions and live the freeloader life

reply to post by v1rtu0s0


People should be angry at the government, or the IRS, if they are pissed off. The government creates the problems, and then it offers solutions. It is a scary thought to take anything from those monsters. You know damn well once they get enough people taking things from them, they will have some catastrophe that will mean they have to stop giving. People may die of starvation or go without homes, even more. And, what would they need the extra money for? To kill people overseas.

I cannot believe Stossel did this piece, really. I have bought one of his books long ago! I used to think this man had a decent head on his shoulders.

He's one of the freeloaders himself. He once said that he had a beach house and collected when it was wiped out in a hurricane. He himself said on TV that he should not be allowed to be stupid and build a house in an area known to get slammed by hurricanes every year, so close to shore. There's your freeloader! Once again, another rich freeloader complaining about poor freeloaders! Always the bigger guys complaining about the smaller guys. The little guy complains and sudden people yell commie. F that! It's the damn rich who are the socialists, but only for money given to them!

It's the rich freeloaders who steal more money than anyone else! Don't believe me? Look at all the rich people who get away with not paying taxes, and the corporations who pay zero taxes for certain years. True they pay lots of taxes compared to us, but they should, because they are taking most of the money for themselves in the first place! They could be paying their employees more, instead, and those employees would pay taxes, instead of saving it offshore. They are greedy scum to insist on taking more and putting their business growth way above their people. People seem to forever support the businesses, despite that profiting always means taking at the loss of someone else. Long ago, people traded fairly. An orange for an apple. A sheep for a, whatever. But, it was fair. Today, businesses say they need to pay people less to minimize costs and price things higher, so they can "grow." Well, that growth is costing someone! Who is it? The CEO? No! It's the employees and the consumers! It's the little guys! US! We are the ones gradually ripped off with each thing we buy. On a small scale, it isn't so bad, but come on, if you have tens of millions, you have stolen much of that but profiting off of lots of people. Nobody counts the quarters and nickels and dollars of "extra" they "tip" for the profit, but it all adds up! This is why the rich always get richer, AT OUR EXPENSE. It's a very clear principle! Businesses and their owners and investors win, the rest, lose! Every time!

I have said this multiple times. Nobody wants to hear it. They are too willing to say the businesses should pay only the minimum they have to. It'll only get worse. Enjoy bondage and low wages. We might be the next China, filled with sweatshops, in 5 years. Role reversal.

Originally posted by coldkidc
Stossel is a rich A-hole who thinks anyone who's poor is trash and must be trying to game the system somehow - talking about his beach house and how he collected federal insurance on it & then turning around in the same breath and saying you shouldn't give to "these street people" insinuating they're all druggies and drunks.

I would imagine that Stossel (as well as many other Fox News pundits and Conservatives who think like him - which allow me to clarify that I am not lumping all Conservatives in with him and his ilk. I know of many Conservative Christians who are very caring and charitable people) consider themselves "Christians."

I wonder what they would have to say about this quote attributed to Jesus in the New Testament:

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:40-46)

I wonder how they justify their greed and condemnation of the less fortunate with their Christian identities.

I would rather give to 10 homeless people knowing that at least one got something they needed. If I had it in the first place, then it should never be an issue. I dont let the news tell me how to be a good person.


Peace, NRE.

Republicans sure have no problem giving people homes in prison as soon as they commit crime. However, if you try to help people they start having a panic attack and act like the world is ending.

"Don't give to those street people"...

What an elitist statement. Most "street people" have serious mental health issues and need psychiatric help.

According to a report from the Department of Education, the number of homeless students in the U.S. topped one million for the first time during the 2010-2011 school year. The number includes students enrolled in public preschool through 12th grade, and as the Orlando Sentinel pointed out, “the figure actually underestimates the number of homeless children by excluding infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children who aren’t enrolled in public programs and homeless children who are home-schooled.” According to the data, “44 states overall saw the number of homeless students increase, while “fifteen states’ homeless student population increased by one fifth or more.”

thinkprogress.org...
articles.orlandosentinel.com... eless-children-beth-davalos

In some cultures, they have nuns and monks who beg during the day. People give them money.

The way I see it, it really IS a form of work - wouldn't you rather be doing something other than begging?
And if that guy or gal is out of the work force, it leaves a job for someone else.

That said, I generally do not give to the homeless because I'm a couple of bad months or serious illness from
being there myself. I do give to charity - we don't throw away anything that someone else might want, use, or that a charity might make a quarter off of. I coupon for charity too.

I don't worry about it past getting it to them. After that, it's gone and I hope it is some small measure of blessing to someone.

Originally posted by v1rtu0s0

Originally posted by yourmaker
Why does it bother me that good-willed people minding their own, walking down the street gave their money to some fake posing as a person in need.

It just doesn't fly with me.

Your generalizing them as "fakes." What about the real homeless? And why do you care what people do with their pocket change? They do a good job wasting their money as it is...

Them? No I was implying this Fox broadcaster was the fake.

Taking away from those Real homeless.

I 'care' because that money was given on fake terms, through actual good-will.
He had no use for it except to prove a point.

Other then that I don't really care.

The way I see it is that I am free to do as I choose with my money and if want to give money to a homeless person that is my choice. What's next, will these same people like Stossel try and tell me I can't use my money at a strip club or in a liquor store? I earned it and I, and only I, will decide how to distribute it.

If these homeless want to buy drugs, alcohol, or whatever else it is their choice what to do with it. Who am I to try and tell them how they should spend the money I handed to them. If people don't want to give, then don't give, but don't try and mock those of us who do give.

Instead of challenging people who give to homeless why doesn't Stossel do a piece on those who donate to politicians?