[Dr. Sivana]

But have no problem with paying hundreds of dollars a month for a cell phone.

Most of the poorer folks do not pay "hundreds" for a cell phone/line. They go with Boost or Cricket or Tracfone and pay $40-$80/month for unlimited (though throttled) usage. (I am not even considering the easily gotten Obamaphones) Landlines can easily cost over $40/month these days. There was a time when cell usage was in an of itself an extravagance. Now it might actually be almost the opposite.

[NativeSon]

The cell phone example is a bit outdated now but I encountered it more than a few times.

I just learned that an acquaintance is in renal failure which is result of not managing his diabetes. Nothing to do with money just (apparently) became apathetic over time.

Non-compliance is one thing but this to me is outrageous.