93-year-old froze to death, owed big utility bill

ASSOC PRESS ^ | 1-26-09 | ASSOC PRESS

[Auntie Mame]

Your relative's death due to her failure to beg for largess is one hell of testament to her character and personal fortitude. I'm sure she'd prefer that epitaph to "Failed to beg for power". Don't you?

I agree with you wholeheartedly.

On another note, this sounds like a tragic story but we don't really know what happened. Maybe the man died of natural causes and then froze. Since we know how good the MSM is at writing truthful stories (about 20 percent of any story they publish MAY be true), about the only thing that is certain in this story is that a 93 year old man died in his home and he may have been discovered on a cold day. I'd like to add that they spelled his name correctly but that is one of the details they most get wrong.

[Impy]

I think so yes.

[sweet_diane]

"To me, it tells of an individual who accepted her fate without lowering her standards. Applause. "

Fortunately, cutting her power didn't lead to her death.

[worst-case scenario]

I pay taxes. I am entitled to secure borders, a strong defense, roads that work, and police departments that function. I am entitled to fair service from the people I do business with. I am entitled not to be poisoned by food I eat at a restaurant, or killed by a staph infection if I go to the hospital. To drive a car that doesn’t explode if I hit a curb. To fire exits at movie theaters. I bet there are even things that YOU believe you are entitled to.

And if utility companies decide that I am “entitled” to rebates, then I will take them. Period. Did I say “government entitlements”? No. The word “entitled” may be a red flag to many conservative bulls, but do we have to be in such knee-jerk opposition just because the word is used?

You wouldn’t? You might not take a helping hand if it was offered to you because you are completely self-sufficient. The rest of us live in a society where we help each other and are helped, and have a social contract composed of responsibilities, rights and entitlements.

And yes, I am a democrat. Perhaps “Democrat” is the insult you meant to fling, as if the question alone ended all dispute. One-liners meant to belittle do not a cogent argument make.

[9YearLurker]

It’s illegal in relatively mild CT, I can’t believe a town government, not just a utility company, of all things did this. Though I must say, the one time I had my electricity shut off was the one time I lived in a town that owned the electric company. Just a couple of days late and they snuffed you out without warning, so maybe such authoritarian tactics just come too easily to any government power.