I'm curious. What would happen if the federal government passed a new law that required anyone looking to purchase alcohol to provide proof of employment and annual income? It seems to me that a big problem with the poor/homeless problem is that they're so depressed from their lot in life that their primary import is alcohol as a crutch. What would happen if poor folks were suddenly denied the right to buy alcohol, much like anyone under the age of 21? Would they start spending what little money they have on more useful things? Would the homeless problem slowly but surely start to deteriorate?
2006-12-18 16:01:21 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Your bold to make such a statement. I asked a similar question some time back and got my butt virtually kicked. Be prepared. I agree though. As a part time cashier/customer service employee I see it everyday. People buy their food with food stamps then purchase large amounts of alcohol (and other junk by the way) with large bills (i.e. $50's and $100's). This isn't all people on government aid, but most. There are some who do work the system and take away from those who truly need it. These are the people who contribute the most to the stigma public aid people have. Good question.
2006-12-18 16:07:23 · answer #1 · answered by Peanut Butter 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, this should not be a law. For starters, the problem that most folks are missing is free will. Free will, the will to be able to choose is the only thing, We, The People, have left. If we can't choose our own vices, what does that say about the choices that we make that are not about our vices?
For some innate reason, the past several years have been about trying to save people from themselves or trying to be their brother's/sister's keeper. It can't be done. If you want to start a fuss, just try to keep poor folks/homeless folks from doing something. The fall out would be herendous. Another way to put it would be, one can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
2006-12-18 16:20:53 · answer #2 · answered by mlynnej 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Their are a few problems with this logic. Buying alcohol would become more of a hassle for everyone. I know I wouldn't want to bring my work pay stub every time I wanted to by alcohol. How would people that are retired, they don't even work, so your saying they can't buy alcohol. Some of the bums that I seen are older. How much would they have to make in order to qualify. Are they going to deny liquor to someone that doesn't make a lot. They would also have someone else buy the liquor for them.
2006-12-18 16:11:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be a bad idea because it is discriminatory. I could see preventing people on government assistance from buying booze and would not have a problem with that as tax payers are where their money comes from. The homeless that drink a lot are in most cases homeless because of drinking and not drinking because of homelessness.
2006-12-18 16:06:55 · answer #4 · answered by joevette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't you think there are any other factors to people being homeless other than drinking alcohol? For instance, just one of many factors, some people do drugs, which are illegal, so the government can't say "do you have a job, before you buy these illegal drugs?" People wouldn't follow that law with alcohol anyway.
2006-12-18 16:05:59 · answer #5 · answered by Falafel softball 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
want to solve the homeless problem, fight it at the source, the leading cause of bankruptcy is medical expenses, followed by credit card debt, I think that abject poverty contributes to alcoholism and not the other way around. Also the same people who give bums money for booze would just go in the store and buy it for them, same as they do for underage kids.
2006-12-18 16:08:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so....I think that the crime rate would increase cuz people would still get their hands on alcohol...much like the underage drinkers. The people that are denied their alcohol would probably retaliate, too...I don't think that's a good idea. If they wanted to spend their money on more useful things and be more productive, they would...alcohol has nothing to do with it.
2006-12-18 16:16:59 · answer #7 · answered by Kristina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell no The government invaded a person's privacy enough the way it is. What a person chooses to do with their life is up to the individual. I know a few people who are homeless by choice while I may not agree with their choice the point is it is THEIR choice
2006-12-18 16:08:04 · answer #8 · answered by bisquedog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this would create a lot of problems. It would be like drugs ( are they legal) then the people who wanted to dring would find a way. More than likelly they would have people start making moonshine. I think this a crazy idea.
2006-12-18 16:12:45 · answer #9 · answered by karen v 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there are always ways to get around laws like this. I was buying alcohol at 16 and cigs at 14. If kids can do things like this, what would make you think that adults couldn't??
2006-12-18 16:05:52 · answer #10 · answered by killersaint 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋