Keep the change 

May shame be upon the City Council of San Luis Obispo for erecting these worthlessly flamboyant meter donation stations as some sort of preventative measure against homeless people asking for change (“Common cents,” May 1). Wasn’t that what Obama wanted? What’s the big deal? Tell homeless people “no” if you don’t want to give them any change. But just for the record, I think they look good downtown.

Please, don’t just pass people by because you’re too ignorant to see the truth about what happens when capitalism rears its ugly face on those who are less privileged than you are. And don’t try to whitewash it with phallic Band-Aids that you can happily pump your petty change into, magically waving away the plight of the homeless man. I’d like to take a moment to mention two homeless people you may have heard of before: Jesus Christ and Buddha. I think it’s safe to say that every new age trend happily being molested by the health-care covered citizens of San Luis Obispo probably stems from homelessness in one way or another.

Trust me, this county doesn’t need meter donation stations, just like we don’t need Whole Foods and McDonald’s. Besides, all the change from these meter donation stations will probably just end up going into some politician’s pocket so he, or she, can spend it on San Luis Obispo’s flourishing sex trafficking business. But I graciously thank you for the endless supply of stupidity; it gives my life a sense of purpose.

-- Jeremiah B. Conte - Atascadero