[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by bluegrasslives

Bay City Mi , is where they shut the power off on a 93 year old Veteran and he froze to death, The utility is owned by the city, They murdered this old veteran because he owed 1100.00

A LOT of parties are at fault for this man's demise, including himself. How many elderly males do you know who are "too proud" to accept help or to rely upon the kindness of strangers or neighbors? The story leaves a lot of details out. Did the man ever go next-door or across the street, explain the financial turmoils he was embroiled in, and ask to be welcomed in to stay a little while with a neighboring family until the cold weather ebbed or until he could get his financial affairs rectified? Did the neighbors ever bother to check in on him? I think this story reflects how insular and self-absorbed we have become as a SOCIETY more than anything else, and yet everyone is scapegoating the utility company for shutting off the power to someone who, in their eyes, was a "deadbeat." Yes, the utility company could have (and probably SHOULD have) notified this man with a knock on the door that his power was going to be turned off due to his failure to pay, at which point they may have noticed the man shivering inside and offered to negotiate a payment plan with him, but there's PLENTY of blame and "what if's" to go around here.

It's nice to see that so many people love to blame everyone but themselves when something goes awry. Go see the movie "Gran Torino" for great insight into an elderly veteran (set right there in Lower Michigan as a matter of fact) who refuses help at every turn and initially tries to reject the kindness of neighbors and strangers. If the man didn't want to freeze to death, then he DID have options if he wasn't so "proud" to accept help from others. Even a letter to the editor of your local newspaper detailing himself as being a veteran who couldn't heat his home would have likely resulted in donations pouring into the newspaper and maybe even some in the neighborhood rallying together to help him out. There were a LOT of things that could have been done here, but hindsight is always 20/20. Just make it a resolution now to check in on those who are elderly/disabled/widowed and live alone, even if they reject your offers. More importantly, STOP BLAMING THE UTILITY! We've become a nation that wants the government to incessantly cradle us instead of trying to fend for ourselves.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

A LOT of parties are at fault for this man's demise, including himself. How many elderly males do you know who are "too proud" to accept help or to rely upon the kindness of strangers or neighbors? The story leaves a lot of details out. Did the man ever go next-door or across the street, explain the financial turmoils he was embroiled in, and ask to be welcomed in to stay a little while with a neighboring family until the cold weather ebbed or until he could get his financial affairs rectified? Did the neighbors ever bother to check in on him? I think this story reflects how insular and self-absorbed we have become as a SOCIETY more than anything else, and yet everyone is scapegoating the utility company for shutting off the power to someone who, in their eyes, was a "deadbeat." Yes, the utility company could have (and probably SHOULD have) notified this man with a knock on the door that his power was going to be turned off due to his failure to pay, at which point they may have noticed the man shivering inside and offered to negotiate a payment plan with him, but there's PLENTY of blame and "what if's" to go around here.

It's nice to see that so many people love to blame everyone but themselves when something goes awry. Go see the movie "Gran Torino" for great insight into an elderly veteran (set right there in Lower Michigan as a matter of fact) who refuses help at every turn and initially tries to reject the kindness of neighbors and strangers. If the man didn't want to freeze to death, then he DID have options if he wasn't so "proud" to accept help from others. Even a letter to the editor of your local newspaper detailing himself as being a veteran who couldn't heat his home would have likely resulted in donations pouring into the newspaper and maybe even some in the neighborhood rallying together to help him out. There were a LOT of things that could have been done here, but hindsight is always 20/20. Just make it a resolution now to check in on those who are elderly/disabled/widowed and live alone, even if they reject your offers. More importantly, STOP BLAMING THE UTILITY! We've become a nation that wants the government to incessantly cradle us instead of trying to fend for ourselves.

Well said!!!!

[michiganmom48]

Bat City is nice but like everywhere there are better area. They have lots of stuff going on in the Summer. Their 4th of July show is very good. They have bars on every corner and make a huge deal of St. Patricks Day. Like the rest of Michigan it isn't easy to find work.

[Bluefly]

I have been through Bay City and dont know much about it. I do however know that Michigan is #1 on the unemployment list and we are seeing more and more move away. It can get pritty cold up here in the winter months and the cost of living can be high. You would want a good stable job before you move up here cuz otherwise, youre gonna be standing in line behind your neighbors in the unemployment lines. It is really bad up here and with the factories going broke and moving, it dont help matters.

I don't think the ever joyous Michigan Welcoming Committee even reads posts anymore before posting cliche rants about jobs and weather.

The guy's asking about what to do for a month that he visits a relative. Geez.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

I don't think the ever joyous Michigan Welcoming Committee even reads posts anymore before posting cliche rants about jobs and weather.

The guy's asking about what to do for a month that he visits a relative. Geez.

I, too, am sick of all of the "Debbie Downers" on this forum! Since when has Michigan cornered the market on the recession? Unemployment in my own metropolitan area has now eclipsed 7.0%.

[MI-IRISH]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I, too, am sick of all of the "Debbie Downers" on this forum! .

I knew a gal by that name

[Westbury]

Unless you love snow & cold, go in the summer. From Linwood you can go north along the lakeshore and be in Tawas/East Tawas within an hour. It's a nice summer community right on Lake Huron/Tawas Bay. Drive about 30 minutes west to Midland and catch a Great Lakes Loons baseball game; minature version of a major league park. The riverfront in downtown Bay City has a number of festivals during the summer including River Roar boat races in June, a big July 4 fireworks show and a Pig Gig Rib Fest in early August (and Midland Street bars/restaurants for night life any weekend). You won't have any trouble staying entertained if you come when the weather is nice.

[IGotYou55]

Here is a video of BC-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyeHyZVFyFo

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by IGotYou55

Here is a video of BC-


YouTube - Bay City, Michigan

The next Saginaw. How sad.

[VM1138]

Born and raised in Bay City. It's great during the summer. Cold, snowy and gray in the winter (like everywhere else during the winter). The "nightlife" is really just bars on Midland street. The city has more bars per capita than anywhere else in the country, I think. There are some clubs but I've never gone to them so I can't speak for how great they are.