It is interesting that this rant coincides with the application of the first benefit increase in NZ for 43 years….I’m surprised you are so closed minded and blindly anti National that you see fit to complain about that.

Everything you say will now be taken a lot less seriously.

Sort of. It’s actually ‘look after yourself and your family first, then those around us.’

The conflict here is not whether the masses care about the beggars, they do. Its more about how much care the masses think the beggars deserve. The New Zealand working class already spend over 20% their income to (indirectly) provide a no-fault health and welfare system to NZ citizens.

The NZ taxpayer does care. In fact, in some cases, eg. the 3rd generation state dependants, maybe they care too much

Yes, I agree. The free world thrives on the free exchange of goods and services.

The real sharks are those who use compulsion and legislation to force payment with no promise or obligation for anything in exchange, such as regulators, tax collectors and almost all of the public service.

And whose land will you confiscate to give 2 acres to all and sundry? Prey tell, Ms Mugabe!

Beggar, from Oxford English Dictionary: A person, typically a homeless one, who lives by asking for money or food.

The real thieves and brigands wear suits. The guys in rags waving placards are strictly small-time and/or genuinely desperate.

I am compassionate.

I am not stupid Andrew.

That is an interesting assumption, your comment appears to assume I am stupid.

Judgement without all the facts is stupid.

Nicola Young? She of the plum in her mouth?

In these neo-liberal days, maybe grifting is just as legitimate as any other, better dressed ways of parting people from their money.