thank you for the story, Jolene! . I have tried to help
so many people in my life, and in what I considered
smart ways -- like the local food kitchen and Gary Sinise --
yet many are too proud to receive help that way, as
you say. . but we try. -- j
.

As long as stupid people continue to pat themselves on the back for feeding cockroaches, the cockroaches will continue to multiply. Altruism at its best!

So the key is, if he does nothing in return for the money - it's tax free.

Jdg, that's always been my stance on this issue. I have "fallen" into the volunteering racket as of late. Why are these people wasting their time standing on corners? They obviously have no problem putting their hand out, why don't they go to one of the many many nonprofits and govt funded agencies? Why because they monitor spending and behavior. And a ton of vets do not ask for help, many are far too proud. The agency that I am currently on a board for, actively and painstakingly seeks out vets in need in our 7 counties, just to keep their funding. I met a bumb once when I was trying to move to Florida and living out of the back of a truck at a roadside rest stop. I was 21, and did no begging, except by phone to my mom when our earned money ran out to come home. Anyway, he was 75 years old and lived on and around South Beach. After about an hour long discussion, he told us that he had been a drunk and just left his kids house one day and never came back. He showed us his makeshift home in the alley behind the gas station he frequently sat in front of. He said God had provided for him most of his life and when God saw fit to take it, it was his for the taking. The man was very sweet. We bought him a sandwich and an ice tea, he sang us some cool old songs for his meal, refused to take it till he did. It was a really cool experience for me. He did also later inspire us to come back home.

Even if they were all genuine homeless people, my donation (if any) goes to Loaves and Fishes (a local church/charity org). Because the behavior of bums accosting people, or blocking traffic, is a public nuisance, and if people subsidize that nuisance they'll get more of it. I'd rather subsidize the ones who behave.

The limit is more than $13k per giver per year. No aggregate limit.

The only question is whether he does something in return for the gifts which would make them self-employment income rather than gifts.

I've heard of the tall stacks of money beggars make a long time ago.
That's why I ignore them at the bottom of off-ramps or where ever.

it really is mooching, of course, but calling it shrug
just felt like a fun thing to do. . living off of the
gleanings from others' lives in a world being driven
into hell by their abandon just seems just. -- j
.

does it warrant another thread, or could you
elaborate here??? -- j
.

ummmmm ... how about mooching;; doesn't looting
require force? -- j
.

That's not shrugging; that's looting

Don't be so sure about the mortgage interest. I have read that some of these people come to work everyday from their comfortable suburban homes. Remember the guy that the policeman bought a pair of boots? He was one of them.

I recently got off of facebook. That story is really something - what prompted me to get off of it.

So, some people complain to the police on Facebook? Is this common? Do we now have police department dispatchers sitting there monitoring Facebook? Seems like a "Not so Brave New World."

grifters are everywhere and in every culture

While living in San Diego 20 years ago, I struck up a conversation with a fellow having a coffee and a piece of pie at a diner I often frequented. He was clean shaven, and clean, although his clothes were obviously thrift store and had been washed many times. Turned out he was a beggar at one of the intersections of a moderately affluent area in the north part of town. After a few meetings at the diner, he felt comfortable opening up to me and said that it was not unusual for him to rake in $1,000 or more per week. He said that there were two approaches to begging. One was the grungy bearded bum look, the other was the clean but poor look, which is what he espoused. He liked his "outfit" best because people were under the impression that he wouldn't spend it all on booze. It was a real eye-opener.

Although. If none of the amounts were over the gift threshold he might be able to say it was all individual gifts. I don't know if IRS has an aggregate limit on gifts from different people. I know they have a limit on gifts from a single person.

Doesn't seem quite like shrugging. He seems more like a moocher who is relying on the benevolence of others.

'I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.'

Seems to me that he is clearly asking another man to live for his life.

Yes. This would all be taxable income and if he's making 40K+ a year that would probably be $5-8K in taxes. I'm assuming he can't deduct mortgage interest. :)

Shouldn't he be required to declare his "tips" to the IRS, pay self-employment contributions, and check the correct box for the Affordable Care Act ???

Not entirely. John Galt specifically instructed his like-minded listeners, "If you find an opportunity to vanish into the wilderness, do so, but not to build another racket to compete with theirs. Build a productive life of your own, with like-minded people."

OK -- he could have gotten a job at the waffle house,
and whatta beard cover would that have required?! -- j
.

Really john, IMO a shrug job is one in which the sanction of the productive victim is removed from the society of moochers, looters, rent seekers, etc. It is not adapting the activities of those you're trying to escape nor victimizing others.

I do think the story was highly interesting and entertaining.

yes, it's a shrug job -- no significant contributions
to the looters -- but altruism is required on the part
of those whose bucks end up in his pocket!!! . and
he knows it's plentiful, out there in traffic. -- j
.