Google today announced a scheme that would provide free phone numbers and voice mail to the homeless in San Francisco. That’s great. Legitimate homeless people trying to get off the streets need this service. It will do wonders. But that’s not what I’m talking about today.
Pulling through the drive-thru tonight to get ice-cream with my son, a panhandler approached my car and asked for some change. I’ve lived in the city long enough to be incredibly jaded about homeless people asking for money. But tonight, I realized that I wasn’t just blowing him off when I said, “I don’t have anything.” Tonight, and most nights, I really didn’t have any cash.
I pay for everything with my ATM card. I don’t carry cash. No one I know carries cash on a regular basis. That simple fact means disaster for panhandlers. If Google really wants to help these type of enterprising individuals, they can keep the phone numbers and provide credit card scanners. It’s the wave of the future. I resolve now to give $5 to the first bum who approaches me with a way to expedite my donation through a cashless transaction.
Digital begging. Coming soon to a town near you.
