John Adams Predicted Problems With Panhandlers – Dave’s Diary

The highest courts in the land have determined that standing on the street corner, pretending to be broke, lying about being homeless and claiming to be in need of genuine help is protected free speech.

How can that be?  Founding Father John Adams saw it coming.    Adams, our first Vice President, and the second President of the United States wrote: Because we have no government, armed with power, capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net.  Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

And so here we are, at the crossroads of “this is soooooo annoying” and “this is First Amendment protected Free Speech!”

So, if you want to be able to have your kids stand on the corner and yell about their car wash fundraiser, then these unwashed clowns get to put their glum on and try to wring a guilty buck out of you as they present themselves as beneficiary of their personal fund raiser!  If we want passionate politicians to be able take to the streets to proclaim their message, then we have to put up with these pseudo-street stalkers and their morose message of misery.  Well played John Adams, well played.  What so many of these people do is, in my opinion, immoral and as Adams noted, our great constitution ties our hands.

Last  Call.  The City Council needs your input tonight!  Council is working on panhandler legislation but key to our ability to be able to defend it in court will be YOUR testimony.  The city’s honest intent is not enough.  The city has to be able to show it is acting on behalf of your safety and health concerns.

Help set the policy for panhandlers, bring your stories and anecdotes and come to council tonight at 6:00.