It is sad and troubling to hear that someone would give up their dignity voluntarily by begging. More troubling when the persons involved are children. Why would a child give up their childhood and live a life socialised to the idea of living life at the tip of other people's mercy.
From yesteryears' news, syndicates would likely to be involved. Unfortunately, it is always the beggars (who may themselves be victims) are the ones viewed with contempt and suspicions. If I can re-read between the lines the example of the Indian lady and the little girl with her, I'd say that the 'mother' would rather not have her daughter associated with her trade such that she dressed her up in a more dignified way. It could be circumstances that forced her to bring her daughter along. Her personal appearance is likely just to draw sympathy from passers by. However, the daughters appearance is by no means an expression of wealth.
On a day to day basis, we get 'conned' by capitalists into buying products that are over-rated, over-priced and over 'discounted' to create a myth of 'value savings'. We get 'conned' into buying artiste signature models instruments from aggressive marketing thinking that it'll produce the same tone as the artist, without being told of the platoon of sound engineers backing the artiste.
Even outside the marketplace, we get 'conned' into believing that everything in the country is doing well when year on year, the income divide is widening. We get 'conned' into believing that people at the top are always the best person for the job when we've not seen others being given opportunities and tested thus creating the myth of the 'best' compared to none.
Unfortunately, the beggars are not sophisticated enough to hide their intention and are likely to be victims themselves. Since their actions are most overtly seen, it is not difficult for society to mock and blame the the victims while letting the big fish go scot free... then again, these are just the big fish in a small pond...
