Hey Brother, Can You Spare an ATM Card?

An advocate for the homeless in San Francisco, Calif., has proposed that the city’s panhandlers be equipped to accept credit cards. The “Benevolending Box Program” would give credit card readers to street beggars to help them accept donations from passersby. The program is an “innovative plan, which empowers homeless persons to take responsible action for their lives,” said an enthusiastic Mayor Willie Brown. “It’s more than a Band-Aid solution,” says Karen Gatter, who thought up the program. (Reuters) ...The American Express Card: Don’t Be Homeless Without It.