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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLife or Death: Heat Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
Life or Death: Heat Is a Necessity, Not a LuxuryTaté Walker 2/11/14 http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/02/11/life-or-death-heat-necessity-not-luxury
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 grandmothers meager income comes from Social Security, and right now thats 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. Lets be clear here, folks: This is predatory lending holding heat hostage for the most at-risk citizens.
But thats not the worst of it. ..........
Rex
(65,616 posts)I agree, Heat is a need not a want.
DJ13
(23,671 posts)No pun intended.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)How do these people look at themselves in the mirror without gagging?
jwirr
(39,215 posts)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)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)As a long standing, mainstream-Center, FDR/LBJ Democrat,
I consider many things like this necessities....
and Fundamental Human RIGHTS!
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)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