The new face of europe

For the last few years, Sweden has been overwhelmed with Roma beggars from Romania and Bulgaria. Recently, the government estimated that there are now around 4,000 in Sweden (population 9.5 million).

"We do not fool anyone. We just benefit from the opportunity." — Bulgarian beggar in Sweden who said he "owned" five street corners.

"If the begging is profitable, they stay miserable.... [Giving money] improves the acute situation. At the same time, it contributes to making the bigger issue permanent -- the misery.... It will not help the Roma, but it gives you a chance to feel like a good person. ... The basic concept of racism is precisely that we as westerners and Swedes are far superior (smarter) and that the Roma are inferior (dumber). If this... is not racist then I do not know what is. ... One could add that the image is inverted among Roma. They consider themselves superior and smart, while the gadjo (non-gypsies) are stupid, naïve and gullible." — Karl-Olov Arnstberg, Swedish ethnologist

"It is our very strong recommendation not to give money to beggars. It turns the panhandling into an occupation... To give [money] encourages a life with no future; moving from country to country does not solve their problems." — Florin Ivanovici, director of the Life and Light Foundation, Bucharest, Romania.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/7782/sweden-roma-beggars

Been to Sweden quite a lot and most of those beggars are indeed really stupid. If I was so bad off that I had to beg, I wouldn't:

1. Smoke.

2. Eat Snickers. Yup, I've counted - 50% + 1 of the beggars I have seen so far have been eating Snickers while begging. Not kidding.

3. Eat store bought pre-made sandwiches.

Seriously. They sit there and beg and when they gathered enough money, they go into the stores(quite expensive stores) and buy cigarrettes, pre-made sandwiches and, above all, Snickers.

I mean, they are not just scammers - they are stupid scammers! Could they at least tryyyy to play the part? Jeez.

Posted by whatthecrab

Posted by Weeds
For the last few years, Sweden has been overwhelmed with Roma beggars from Romania and Bulgaria. Recently, the government estimated that there are now around 4,000 in Sweden (population 9.5 million).

What are you trying to discuss?

click to expand

Europe's growing plague of beggars.

Welcome to the EU...

Even Bulgarians don't give money to the Roma beggars because the money goes to pimps or the heads of their beggar organizations. It has been like that forever on the Balkans... but okay I see it's something new in Sweden... Bulgarians don't even have money to feed their own families which has forced the Roma people to move

In the end, no one and nothing really helps the Roma people. I give them food, but I'm often afraid they don't even eat it...

Posted by Fragrance
Even Bulgarians don't give money to the Roma beggars because the money goes to pimps or the heads of their beggar organizations. It has been like that forever on the Balkans... but okay I see it's something new in Sweden... Bulgarians don't even have money to feed their own families which has forced the Roma people to move

In the end, no one and nothing really helps the Roma people. I give them food, but I'm often afraid they don't even eat it...

I stopped giving food when I was yelled at for not giving money. The guy even had a sign in front of him, saying he needed money for food. That was probably not one of the people we're talking about here, but anyway. I have given up. *shrugs*

Posted by Weeds

Posted by whatthecrab

Posted by Weeds
For the last few years, Sweden has been overwhelmed with Roma beggars from Romania and Bulgaria. Recently, the government estimated that there are now around 4,000 in Sweden (population 9.5 million).

What are you trying to discuss?

Europe's growing plague of beggars.

click to expand

have you been to the STREETS of San Francisco—?

that's really really bad.

they have long long lines of poor, homeless for food and some shelter.

http://nation.foxnews.com/sites/nation.foxnews.com/files/styles/story_624_300/public/2935cropped.png

Posted by lisabethur8

Posted by Weeds

Posted by whatthecrab

Posted by Weeds
For the last few years, Sweden has been overwhelmed with Roma beggars from Romania and Bulgaria. Recently, the government estimated that there are now around 4,000 in Sweden (population 9.5 million).

What are you trying to discuss?

Europe's growing plague of beggars.

have you been to the STREETS of San Francisco—?

that's really really bad.

they have long long lines of poor, homeless for food and some shelter.

http://nation.foxnews.com/sites/nation.foxnews.com/files/styles/story_624_300/public/2935cropped.png

class="bqfade">click to expand

Lol yes the states are right behind but it's not just a homeless issue.
Some ppl have found it far easier to beg on a corner then get a job.
Professional Career Beggars

many of those folks cant find even a job as a janitor, Weeds. the janitor positions are already filled. Even they will hold on to their precious jobs.

sometimes it's just economical problems and most of the time they have a drug addiction. to support their habit.

um the states have ALOT of homeless. they aren't even "behind" ..they've been at it for decades.

@lisabethur8 take the homeless and drug addicts out of the equation.