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Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:26 PM Feb 2014

Life or Death: Heat Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury

Life or Death: Heat Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
Taté Walker 2/11/14 http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/02/11/life-or-death-heat-necessity-not-luxury

The recent death of Debbie Dogskin, found unresponsive inside her own frozen home on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, hit hard across Indian Country. Many of us face similar circumstances or have relatives who do. Dependent on murderously expensive propane and living in sub-standard housing makes tribal living an act of survival in harsh winter conditions that see temperatures well below zero. Yet very little seems to be happening at the tribal, state, or federal levels to stop our most vulnerable Native citizens from dying in their own homes.

On the same day Dogskin was found dead in her home, my 76-year-old grandmother living in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, made a rare call to my mom, who lives near Omaha. Like many of her generation, asking for help is hard for my grandmother to do. But she was cold and had no other options to pay for the propane that heats her small, decades-old trailer held together with hope and duct tape. My mom and other relatives have often (and without prompting) helped my grandmother with living essentials (and non-essentials). It was no different this time, but the call got my mom and I wondering what exactly the situation was where my grandmother lived.

Like many elders, most of my grandmother’s meager income comes from Social Security, and right now that’s barely covering the cost to heat her home with propane. Before going to my mother she went to a local bank for a loan. Due to her age and income, they offered her a $100 loan with a $75 fee attached, a flat fee the bank charges on loans up to $1,000. My grandmother said the bank allowed her to borrow against the upcoming Salazar/Cobell settlement funds that may or may not arrive sometime in the next few months. Let’s be clear here, folks: This is predatory lending holding heat hostage for the most at-risk citizens.

But that’s not the worst of it. ..........

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Life or Death: Heat Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury (Original Post) Coyotl Feb 2014 OP
It is 34 degrees outside and I have the heat on. Rex Feb 2014 #1
Kick for exposure DJ13 Feb 2014 #2
A hundred dollar loan with a 75 dollar fee. Real sweet of the bank, eh? Scuba Feb 2014 #3
I have seen those homes many years ago and many are still standing. I take it that the tribe does jwirr Feb 2014 #4
It's currently -33. raven mad Feb 2014 #5
Heat IS a necessity. bvar22 Feb 2014 #6
The problem is that we have given over control to private for-profit companies SoCalDem Feb 2014 #11
Rec JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #7
Kicking. n/t veness Feb 2014 #8
Recommend jsr Feb 2014 #9
K&R Solly Mack Feb 2014 #10
 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
3. A hundred dollar loan with a 75 dollar fee. Real sweet of the bank, eh?
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:47 PM
Feb 2014

How do these people look at themselves in the mirror without gagging?

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
4. I have seen those homes many years ago and many are still standing. I take it that the tribe does
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:51 PM
Feb 2014

not have their own energy assistance money for the federal programs. Our tribe in NE MN has a great program. But more than energy assistance they need housing repair and weatherization programs.

Sorry to hear nothing has changed since the 70s. We tried.

raven mad

(4,940 posts)
5. It's currently -33.
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 03:59 PM
Feb 2014

Yes, below zero. Try no money for fuel. I HATE this kind of crap - heat IS a necessity, NOT a luxury (as we've heard so many politicians describe it).

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
6. Heat IS a necessity.
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 04:29 PM
Feb 2014

As a long standing, mainstream-Center, FDR/LBJ Democrat,
I consider many things like this necessities....
and Fundamental Human RIGHTS!

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be[font size=3] established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.[/font]

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

[font size=3]America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.[/font]


Please note that the above are stipulated as Basic Human RIGHTS to be protected by our government,
and NOT as COMMODITIES to be SOLD to Americans by Private Corporations.


There was a time, not so long ago, when voting FOR The Democrat
was voting FOR the above Fundamental Human RIGHTS.
Sadly, this is no longer true.

---bvar22

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
11. The problem is that we have given over control to private for-profit companies
Tue Feb 11, 2014, 07:01 PM
Feb 2014

Once upon a time, a homesite was chosen because of the relative ease of getting wood to burn for heat..Cities pretty much ended that plan (and we chopped down most of the trees.

Communities used to own their own utilities, and most places made provisions for the poor.. In our "new times", we sold off the utilities to the highest bidder so someone could pad their budget (in the short time), and only as prices rose, did communities realize the mistake they made.

If you must buy access to heat, and you have no money, you are S O L

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