Hungary's Disdain for the Poor
Published: 4 October 2013 By Abiodun Giwa

Last Monday, the Hungarian government passed a law banning homelessness. According to a story by Reno Verseck published by Spiegel, the law passed by the Parliament in Budapest frowns against the homeless sleeping in outdoors in public places. The law applies to all Hungary's World Heritage Sites, as well as other homeless - free zones designated by local city authorities. It is not the first law that the authorities in Hungary has enacted that is showing disdain for homelessness.
The first law that was passed one year ago was thrown into the garbage can by the Constitutional Court. In order to beat the court this time, the government ensured a constitutional amendment that would put the court at bay regarding the treatment of the homeless.
Violation of the new law is punishable by fines, community service and jail term for repeat offenders. Yet, the rate of homelessness in the country is said to be about 10,000 to 15000 in Budapest alone, and the city government has only 6000 shelter for lodging. Reactions to the new law have been swift.
Tessza Udvar, one of those interviewed by Verseck says the new law is a wider hostility toward the poor. Pastor Gabor Ivanyi, a Methodist Church minister describes the law as deeply un-Christian.
But a government apologist thinks otherwise that the new law is needed to keep the environment clean and for tourists to have a sane thought about the country.
It is not only in Hungary that there are homeless people. They are all over the world. Some are pushed into homelessness by poverty and other by choice to save their hard earned money from hawkish landlords. For example, a homeless woman in Budapest told Verseck that she had never resorted to begging, because she viewed begging as un-dignifying.
She lives with her husband in the outskirts of Budapest in a dilapidated building. Their income comes from collection of disused home materials, which they put back into good shape and sell in the market. But a new trash law that targets the handling of trash throws them out of business, as only authorized trash collectors are allowed to do that.
Police clear the homeless out of huts and camps in many public wastelands and in the outskirts of the capital. The story of the homeless woman reminds this reporter of an encounter with a woman in a New York's supermarket, shopping for an artwork with an illustration and writing that says 'Poverty Stinks.'
It is also a reminder of the song 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel, which tends to ask us to extend help to those who are down; by showing that we are on their side and that they should not feel they are alone.
When one thinks about the way the society treats the poor like they have have committed an unforgivable crime, no one would wish to be poor. It is why those who are already rich don't wish for a negative turn around to be poor again; never will wish their children and grandchildren to be poor and would do anything possible to save enough for their children yet unborn. It explains the cause of inequality in the society and the struggle by all to be rich.
But in this struggle, some are unfortunate to have been left behind in the race. And how the society treat these unfortunate ones will determine the respect the society has for humanity.
It is not certain how long the government in Hungary will skirt around enacting laws that deliberately seek to make life difficult for the poor. It is not in their dictionary that fingers are not equal, and that humans are not equally endowed. If the means are there for everyone to be rich or comfortable by having what we need, Hungary will not be one of the poor countries in Europe surrounded by wealthier countries that have not asked Hungary to be pushed into the sea for its poverty.
The first law that was passed one year ago was thrown into the garbage can by the Constitutional Court. In order to beat the court this time, the government ensured a constitutional amendment that would put the court at bay regarding the treatment of the homeless.
Violation of the new law is punishable by fines, community service and jail term for repeat offenders. Yet, the rate of homelessness in the country is said to be about 10,000 to 15000 in Budapest alone, and the city government has only 6000 shelter for lodging. Reactions to the new law have been swift.
Tessza Udvar, one of those interviewed by Verseck says the new law is a wider hostility toward the poor. Pastor Gabor Ivanyi, a Methodist Church minister describes the law as deeply un-Christian.
But a government apologist thinks otherwise that the new law is needed to keep the environment clean and for tourists to have a sane thought about the country.
It is not only in Hungary that there are homeless people. They are all over the world. Some are pushed into homelessness by poverty and other by choice to save their hard earned money from hawkish landlords. For example, a homeless woman in Budapest told Verseck that she had never resorted to begging, because she viewed begging as un-dignifying.
She lives with her husband in the outskirts of Budapest in a dilapidated building. Their income comes from collection of disused home materials, which they put back into good shape and sell in the market. But a new trash law that targets the handling of trash throws them out of business, as only authorized trash collectors are allowed to do that.
Police clear the homeless out of huts and camps in many public wastelands and in the outskirts of the capital. The story of the homeless woman reminds this reporter of an encounter with a woman in a New York's supermarket, shopping for an artwork with an illustration and writing that says 'Poverty Stinks.'
It is also a reminder of the song 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel, which tends to ask us to extend help to those who are down; by showing that we are on their side and that they should not feel they are alone.
When one thinks about the way the society treats the poor like they have have committed an unforgivable crime, no one would wish to be poor. It is why those who are already rich don't wish for a negative turn around to be poor again; never will wish their children and grandchildren to be poor and would do anything possible to save enough for their children yet unborn. It explains the cause of inequality in the society and the struggle by all to be rich.
But in this struggle, some are unfortunate to have been left behind in the race. And how the society treat these unfortunate ones will determine the respect the society has for humanity.
It is not certain how long the government in Hungary will skirt around enacting laws that deliberately seek to make life difficult for the poor. It is not in their dictionary that fingers are not equal, and that humans are not equally endowed. If the means are there for everyone to be rich or comfortable by having what we need, Hungary will not be one of the poor countries in Europe surrounded by wealthier countries that have not asked Hungary to be pushed into the sea for its poverty.
Comment Box is loading comments...