Where do you people live? I walked from my car to my office a few minutes ago (2 blocks). There were several "beggars" and street people either just laying around or asking for money. Do you just not notice them unless you are in Europe? LOOK AROUND. And yes they can be agressive. However, I have watched them in my town and they seem to go for tourists. Maybe they have figured out the same things that the Euopean version have, tourist don't always know where they are and are vulunerable.<BR><BR>

The reason one notices the beggars and panhandlers in european cities is because we are told over and over how their (especially the french) social system takes care of the people. It is not supposed to be this way in Europe. I can understand seeing poor people begging and sleeping under bridges in cities in the US, were the welfare system is so bad, but not in Paris or London. There they pay such high taxes to provide for everyone. I have seen drunks sleeping on street corners even in small towns all over Europe and was shocked. Didn't expect drug addicts sleeping on park-benches!!

I've seen people begging on the streets of Paris and Rome, but FAR less than I see on the streets of my city, Seattle.