Immigration Legalising the act of begging

[Maciamo]

Some European cities are infested with beggars. They typically concentrate around shopping streets and touristic places (in front of major museums, churches, etc.).

What few people know is that most beggars do earn quite a lot of money from their activity, often more than many people with low-paid full-time jobs (see article). Yet they do not pay taxes nor contribute to society. In a city like Brussels, most are not even legally residing in Belgium.

It tends to bother me because they are just everywhere. It's hard to go to the city centre or take the metro without being assailed by beggars, typically gypsies. The entry of some Eastern European countries (notably Romania) in the EU has only increased the phenomenon.

I was thinking, why not pass a law that would compell beggars to be legally residing in the country in order to "exercise their profession" (in most cases it is a chosen way of life, as the government supports anyone in need anyway).

After all, they shouldn't be allowed to stay in the country in the first place if they do not have a proper visa or an ID card or passport. Belgian citizens are obliged to carry their ID card on them at all times, and can be fined or even jailed overnight if they don't. The same will also apply to expats. But when it comes to illegal immigrants who do not even have an ID, the police doesn't do anything. This is utter, blatant discrimination against locals and legal foreign residents and in favour or illegal immigrants.

So if there is something we can do, it is at least to prohibit them to illegally earn more money than legal nationals on the dole or with low-paid jobs (of which there are many).

The police should constantly ask for beggar's ID and only allow Belgians, EU citizens or other legal resident to beg for money in public places. The others should be arrested and have their illegal earnings confisated, with an additional fine for "all the other times they escaped justice".

I also encourage citizens to ask for the beggar's ID or resident card whenever they come and ask you for money. In an enclosed place like a metro especially, if you are approached by beggars (musician or not), please do ask for an ID proving that they are legally staying in the country. I have tried, and everytime they looked scared and quickly escaped as soon as the train's doors opened. They are well aware of the illegallity of their acts. So why should we endure their annoying presence and give them money to incite others to come and enlarge their ranks ?

Be a good an responsible citizen, ask for their ID if they ask you for money.

 

[gaijinalways]

A shame this topic languished. You often get more people in Europe I think on the dole as the benefits are generally more generous than some other countries. My wife and I when we stayed in the Baker Street area in London used to see the same woman every day asking for spare change. I was considerably pushed to not say to her "WHy don't you get off your lazy duff and geta job?!". She didn't appear to be handicapped, just lazy.

As to getting them to pay taxes, good idea, that and have them work on government projects where they would be paid a wage and out of vistors' hair.

 

[carpathia]

Some European cities are infested with beggars. They typically concentrate around shopping streets and touristic places (in front of major museums, churches, etc.).....

The entry of some Eastern European countries (notably Romania) in the EU has only increased the phenomenon.

listen fellow.. the gypsy is a SCOURGE in romania.. THEY ARE NOT ROMANIAN!!... they came as beggars from india and they are huge problems from euro romanian people.. we hate them.

you should not classify the gypsy as a romanian only by their passport. they are a population that is only taking advantage of your nations cowardice and weakness.
If you did not let them do as they please and handled them roughly as they expect they would not be a troublesome--they see you are weak and soft and will cower from them so they come to your nation and abuse it.
who is at fault the gypsy now, who knows he has no reason to fear his bad behaviour, or your nation that is too frightened of a vagrant to deal with him??

In romania he knows what will befall him for certain acts and this keep shim is check, in your nation, he is back to his own old tricks as he sees you fear dealing with him properly and seek to comfort him that he will be treated as a elderly, belgian matron would be handled..

you bring such on yourself with your weakness