Do you agree with the artist? Who really has spare money? The above image describes an all too familiar situation. According to the St. Louis Fed the personal savings rate has recently come back above 5%, up from around 2% prior to the recession. While some people are able to effectively manage their debts, I believe it is too socially acceptable to abuse credit.

When walking through the streets of downtown Portland, I sometimes give money out when asked, but usually I try to avoid it. I avoid it not because I don’t have compassion for the poor but that I feel giving out money is only a short term fix.

When waiting at my bus stop, the same woman comes by everyday asking people for money. I saw her elsewhere once downtown, walking and talking on a cell phone. I don’t know if it was her cell phone or not but it made me think.

I feel strange when I am at an intersection and I see a person with a sign asking for help. It would be dangerous to stop my vehicle to give them some money, but I think it’s their intent to get money from people who end up stopped right next to them. When I see a sign that mentions being a veteran my heart aches that much more.

This topic is hard for some to talk about. I grew up in an area with less visible signs of poverty so maybe I am more impacted by people I see on the street asking for help. What are your thoughts?