Posted on 01/27/2009 7:29:00 AM PST by library user
I didn't read that part where he had a stamp and an envelope available. If he didn't have it then he would have to go get it.
Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t, and maybe he forgot that he knew, or maybe he fell asleep and didn’t think, and then again, maybe he wasn’t capable of taking care of himself.
Do you suggest a social service agency be contracted with, on behalf of the utility company and do evaluations for every utility customer? LOL...
The utility company has rules that are set up, they follow them and that’s the end of the story as far as they are concerned... The rest of it is up to the people themselves...
The only responsibility the utility company has is to follow the rules as they are laid down for them — and that’s it. Anything else that can be worked out, is up to the customer to do so, if they want to try and work something out.
We’re not talking about “good ideas” or “good samaritans” or “helping your neighbor” — but strictly a business and/or government who follows the rules and that’s it...
If you want different rules, then change the procedures and make it so. If those people around in that area want different rules, they have a process to go through to effect any changes they want.
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You asked — “If they are able to do so. So who was supposed to commit the guy? He had no children, we don’t know about friends, and the neighbors weren’t doing anything to check on him.”
Whatever the case, it’s not up to the utility company to do it. If neighbors lived around there, then they could have done it. If they didn’t, then talk to the neighbors about why, not the utility company.
I suppose that now people here on this board are going to want every household to submit to a “check” from the government to make sure they pass sanity tests and are capable of taking care of themselves and don’t have to be committed before something bad happens to them... LOL...
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You then said — “Of course, the neighbors were acting just like you and whatever god you serve say they should act. Just take care of yourself, and if you can’t, then die. It’s not anybodies responsibility to try and help you.”
It’s certainly not the governments or the utility company to run around checking on everyone to make sure they’re sane and capable of taking care of themselves. I guess that would mean a check, at least, once every six months for every man, woman and child in the nation. That should keep the Obamites happy with the increased government control.... LOL...
As far as *I* am concerned, I don’t deal with people several states away. That’s up to those people who are close by that guy. I deal with people around here. And yes, I do check on people and make sure that things are okay. I don’t call the utility company up and tell them to check on their customers...
I believe every UNBORN human being should receive the same treatment (the right to life), but once you're a grown adult, it's pretty easy to argue why everyone SHOULD NOT be considered equal.
Why should someone who has never worked a day their entire life have a vote which counts the same as yours and mine? That's fair?
Neighbors and Friends are angry?
They care enough to get angry when the guy dies, but not enough to have checked on the guy once during the coldest weeks of the winter?
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According to another article the limiter was installed and 3-4 days later his neighbors discovered his body.
Sounds like they were checking every few days.
You said — “Why should someone who has never worked a day their entire life have a vote which counts the same as yours and mine? That’s fair?”
Then let the government assign a social service worker to check up on and take care of these Veterans every other day (or maybe once or twice a week). I’m sure everyone would be happy to do that...
Call Obama, he’ll have the Democrat Congress put it in the next appropriations bill, I’m sure...
Not in this guy’s case. All that had to be done is walk outside and reset the tripped breaker. Nothing more was needed.
And in addition, the limiter did not limit the heating from the furnace for the house. That was included in there and he could have had all the heat he wanted, no problem...
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How do they know how much current his furnace draws? Maybe his older furnace draws more than a new one. What if the limiter was a little more sensitive than it should be?
Apparently the power company notice was still on the front door. Did he even know a limiter had been installed? Did he know what a limiter was and what it would do?
It was below freezing. What if the limiter blew in the middle of the night, the temperature in the house dropped and he froze to death without ever waking up?
He probably qualified for the poverty exemption, but Bay City "needs" its operating cash for the hookers and the booze for its politicos...
You think they might have taken the extra 30 grand they peeled off him and his wife into consideration...
Yeah, make the utility company a social service agency, while you’re at it...
The bottom line is that the company is supposed to follow the procedures and rules. People are supposed to pay their bills and if the public doesn’t like how the rules are, they have input to put through changes in the laws and/or rules and regulations.
I’m sure the public could assign a team of social workers to all utility agencies and they could write reports “out the gazoo” about all those questions you asked.
Obama would be glad to institute that dramatic increase in government oversight and put it in the next appropriations bill by requesting Congress to do so. Contact your President, Obama, and I’m sure he’ll be glad to accommodate you...
Oh, he must have had one of those there "non-electrical" furnaces...
Most furnaces either don't start or don't deliver heat if your electrical is off. Period.
For example, I have a natural gas radiator system, which won't deliver the heat if the [electrical] water pump won't run.
Many more people with natural gas forced air heat won't get their heat if the [electrical] blowers aren't operating.
I have no connection with www.modestneeds.org other than as a happy donor, but they focus on helping on-the-edge people with urgent needs.
They have a look-up for special interests, and ‘military families’ is one choice.
I have donated to more than one vet in need through there.
Unfortunately, they only have 3 fields to tag each request, so ‘military’ isn’t always on there. But as you skim through the story titles, you can see veterans represented. Sometimes, you have to read the individual stories to see a military tie.
So please, rather than only getting upset - please consider helping a vet with even just $5 today. And best of all - it’s a tax deduction.
I found this charity through Forbes magazine.
That’s one good reason for people having a heat source that isn’t reliant upon any electrical power. One could set that up so that a limited area of the house would have heat, while the full-sized furnace would heat the entire house (and also require some electrical power).
It’s good to have alternatives...
OK - I’ll say it: If his name was say, Rodriguez or Ivanov this wouldn’t have happened.
You said — “Yes, that is all that is required of them by law. However, do you know the specific rules this company had to go by? Perhaps they WERE negligent.”
If you think so, then see what a determination of that speculation is... Let me know when they get that determination...
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And then you said — “I notice that you put “LOL” after an offensive comment, for whatever reason.
Limited government and personal responsibility are two ideas that I believe in, but you glossed over the question of who was supposed to have this man committed if he was unable to care for himself. (I never said the power company or government should do it.)”
No nanny state and no utility company doing any more than delivering a service and following the rules — and that’s it...
Past that aspect of it... then it comes down to anyone else who comes across that man’s path in a personal way. They are the ones who should act on it and not the government and not the utility. That would include the neighbors, who seem worthless at this moment in time...
But, even so, there are many instances where someone is not incapacitated to the extent where they can be institutionalized against their will — but — they will make decisions which are detrimental to themselves. And that’s just the nature of freedom. The *only* way around that is involved “people” who comes across that man’s path in a personal way and/or neighbors. Short of that, there’s going to be no solution — short of the *nanny state* and that is not acceptable...
In any case, this has nothing to do with the utility company....
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You also said — “He had no spouse or children. We don’t know about friends. And the neighbors are worthless. I don’t know in this specific case, but if he were unable to care for himself, and perhaps not thinking clearly, how can he be held personally responsible? That is the point that bothers me about what you were posting. It appeared that you were saying if he wasn’t able to take care of himself, too bad. Personal responsibility.”
That’s one of the problems with personal freedom and not having a government/nanny state, that everyone here says that they don’t want. That’s part of what you get, then. There are going to be instances of where people make the wrong decisions, and still can’t be forcefully institutionalized. It happens all the time. The only way around that is for all of us to comply with periodic psych evaluations by the government and social service agencies for the rest of our lives to make sure we are able to take care of ourselves..., which is a bunch of baloney...
It comes down to people on a personal level and those around the guy. That’s where it lies...
The people who know of the guy and know the guy on a personal level — they are responsible... (but there will be no laws to that effect...)
Another news story said his wife was dead and he had no children. Probably all other members of his family are dead.
You talk about the nanny state, yep we have one and that nanny state is probably the reason this poor old guy froze to death in the dark, and it may be the fate of many of us if Bozo gets all of his "energy" plans implemented.
Very sad story. Made me cry.
If nothing else comes of it, perhaps it will remeind people to check on elderly neighbors. Sometimes they are not physically or mentally up to taking care of themselves when they get to be this age.
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