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I am in León right now and a little bit shocked by the number of beggars. Almost all supermarket entrances are covered, but there is also a small group imposing themselves on tourists sitting on terraces. It seems organised. Young and pretty girls, wearing the same outfits: long flowery skirts, a headscarf and a Mercadona bag. Is this new or have I been away too long from the Camino cities?
Yes, saw those too. Saw beggars of all sorts and kind in León. But the girls with the scarfs and Mercadona bags were the most annoying. Maybe I have been away too long from bigger Spanish cities...And re the beggars - I saw a few that looked like pilgrims.
I know my Spanish, but prefer to stay polite with fellow human beings. But these girls just keep standing at your table after 'no', a shaking head and ignoring them. I wonder why the owners of these cafes let them. Sitting on a terrace and watching the world pass by is a less pleasant experience this way.
It is easy to be polite to those who are polite. The real test of character is being polite to those who are rude.I feel no obligation to be polite to those who are rude
These people are a nuisance, they tell you you have signed to donate !0/20 Euros never given them money yetSometimes they pretend to be deaf and want to make you sign some petitions... once they have you distracted, it is easier to take something from you
The problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
Be cautious to make a sweeping statement such as "the social system in Spain is close to non-existent." Consider the following: Spain was ranked the healthiest country in the world for 2019 by the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index. Also Spain's universal healthcare system is the envy of many countries.The problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
I know the health care here is excellent. But unemployment benefits and pensions aren't.Be cautious to make a sweeping statement such as "the social system in Spain is close to non-existent." Consider the following: Spain was ranked the healthiest country in the world for 2019 by the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index. Also Spain's universal healthcare system is the envy of many countries.
Unemployment benefits and pensions are not much better here in the US - the richest nation in the world- either.I know the health care here is excellent. But unemployment benefits and pensions aren't.
I feel they are all having a hard time even the ones who are less "real". I live in London it's the same here.The problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
I won't discuss that. The point that I wanted to make is that there are probably quite a lot of beggars in the streets of León (and other Spanish cities) who have hit rock bottom and have just no other way to survive.Unemployment benefits and pensions are not much better here in the US - the richest nation in the world- either.
If you meant a universal minimum income, Spain doesn't have it.I think the UK has it. In the UK 170.000 homeless, 40.000 in Spain.The problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
eerrrmmm...Seems to me that Spain's system of social safety nets is very well-developed, if not provident. Jobs are hard to come by and hard to keep, wages are low, and regulations are punitive to small businesses...but every spaniard knows he can see a doctor if he is ill without bankrupting his family, he can retire with a modest state pension, his kids will get a higher education if they want one without taking on crippling debt. I do not know what drives these folks to beg...perhaps it is the only work they can findThe problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
Err.... I beg to differ!.... But hey, I have no wish to enter that type of discussion now. Just stating that this sweeping statement is ... erm... misleading? (For lack of a better word?)The problem is that there are also 'real' beggars. Desperate people who lost almost everything. The social system in Spain is close to non-existent.
I don't recall seeing these in '16.Sounds like eastern European gangs, do not place any valuables on the table surface in a terrace and you should be ok
I can vouch the health system in Spain is second to none. It is even better now than in my home country (France) and certainly much better than in my second country (the UK)....but every spaniard knows he can see a doctor if he is ill without bankrupting his family, he can retire with a modest state pension, his kids will get a higher education if they want one without taking on crippling debt.
These people are a nuisance, they tell you you have signed to donate !0/20 Euros never given them money yet
Unemployment benefits and pensions hardly exist at all in the USA!! only for those who are or have been employed, but nothing for those unable to work.Unemployment benefits and pensions are not much better here in the US - the richest nation in the world- either.
What is the basis or measure for this?the richest nation in the world
Interesting question. Generally wealth of a nation is determined in terms of GDP. In 2017 US had $19+ trillion GDP, almost one fourth of the entire global wealth.What is the basis or measure for this?
I don't recall seeing these in '16.
It is easy to be polite to those who are polite. The real test of character is being polite to those who are rude.
I guess it is my Dutch perception then. I don't see how someone who is unemployed in Spain can make ends meet without the help of family members.eerrrmmm...Seems to me that Spain's system of social safety nets is very well-developed, if not provident. Jobs are hard to come by and hard to keep, wages are low, and regulations are punitive to small businesses...but every spaniard knows he can see a doctor if he is ill without bankrupting his family, he can retire with a modest state pension, his kids will get a higher education if they want one without taking on crippling debt. I do not know what drives these folks to beg...perhaps it is the only work they can find
It's hard to click on Like but I have to agree. The problem that is appearing right now is that people with full time employment can't make ends meet each month. It's happening largely in EU in past couple of years.I won't discuss that. The point that I wanted to make is that there are probably quite a lot of beggars in the streets of León (and other Spanish cities) who have hit rock bottom and have just no other way to survive.
Sometimes they pretend to be deaf and want to make you sign some petitions... once they have you distracted, it is easier to take something from you
And they can't all be bogus!
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