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I didn't think it ever got really all that cold in England, not cold enough that people would freeze to death if they wore thick sweaters and socks indoors.
It doesn't. But you know that darn global warming, making the earth colder, who knew?
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Originally Posted by Opyelie
Okay, that's sad, but WTH were those two oldsters doing out in their GARDENS in freezing temps anyway?
I'm sure you as an Aussie, know that Poms aren't exactly the brightest incandescent bulb in the closet This happened last year too, old people were out and about in the cold and died from it.
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Originally Posted by firstborn888
Now - if I could just get around to building those solar panels to run the ACs my heating cooling bill would probably drop to around 2 percent.
After forking over enough money that you could buy yourself a Lincoln MKZ first
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Originally Posted by Eleanora1
The Euros live longer and healthier lives than we do:
The US is 49th in life expectancy behind Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and yes the UK. One in 8 Americans is on food stamps.
But don't worry the Reps will lower taxes on inheritances so that makes it all worthwhile!
Uh, this isn't a liberal vs. conservative thing. Haven't you noticed, the main reason why Europeans live healthier lives is not because they are social democrats, because they eat better than us? Their food doesn't have so much chemical junk in it, and their water probably has less chemicals and fluoride than us? This has nothing to do with ideology Plus the European countries have far fewer populations than we do, and they IMPORT LESS poor people than we do every year. We have more than 12 million illegals living here, and millions of poor legal immigrants that got here due to the DV Lottery or family ties and those skew statistics quite significantly.
People over the age of 60 in the UK receive a winter fuel payment of almost $500 towards heating bills every year so I am not quite sure how this piece of "news" can really be relied upon to be honest. ( Those bloody "liberals" helping the elderly so they don't freeze, what a terrible thing indeed...)
How many millions of Americans do you think cannot afford their fuel bills every year considering that so many can't even afford healthcare ? Mmmmmmmmm.... I wonder which country I would rather be poor in. If you think America has no poverty , think again and grow up. Having lived and travelled in the US on a regular basis ( I have been to every single State bar Arkansas and Nebraska) I have seen poverty which made my eyes water. Some parts of the US feel more like a developing country than the so called richest nation on the planet.
It does get a bit complicated, doesn't it?
I never bought health insurance because I never wanted to pay for it. For me the gamble paid off as even with a trach (and brain damage induced central apnea) my health is good (as long as my vent works right).
Many can't afford health insurance but still - how many 3rd world nations can guarantee ER care for all citizens?
I have NEVER seen poverty here in the U.S. like I have seen in "developing nations". Even the poorest of the poor can get food from a food pantry or emergency medical care. Every person I know who is unable to work gets disability benefits - even when the problem is depression or other emotional issues. Anyone able and willing to work can get a job or unemployment pay. Many many many people could work but have learned to bilk the system and live on welfare.
As far as "so called" richest nation on the planet, I think that's a fact - is it not? Even though trends say we will not remain that.
The problem is that we are spending more than we make. Ultimately it is not a sustainable situation.
What a typical and laughable response from the leftist progressives....."Hey nothing to see here. Nobody is freezing to death. Everything is fine. The government is in control and will take care of you!"
The more elderly who freeze to death the lesser the burden on their overburdened socialized health system.
You know - the powers that be are making fools out of us though. They consume the imagination of the masses by pitting the rich against the poor, the Repubs against the Dems, the conservatives against the liberals, the workers against the freeloaders, the workers against the management etc etc etc AND all the while both sides are raiding the bounty of the average joe.
That's because they've never been poor in America - and if they had, I'm sure they'd prefer being poor in the US.
The average poor America has more living space than the average (not poor - just average) citizen living is Paris, London and other cities in Europe. Almost 75% own a car, 97% own a color tv and 76% have air conditioning.
Only a very, very small portion of poor households in this country have severe housing problems - and you know what the biggest severe problem is? Sharing another bathroom with residents of another property.
Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning.<snip>
The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. <snip>
Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.
I'm a 22 year old in the US and my two roommates (both in their 20s) and I cannot afford heat. It's currently 21 degrees outside (and, according to weather.com, feels like 11 degrees) and we do not have our heat on. We will turn it on to the lowest heat possible when we go to sleep just to make sure our pipes don't freeze. I'm currently wearing a sweater and a hoody and under 6 blankets in the house because it's 50 in the house.
We are not in abject poverty and could probably afford to heat the house more if we absolutely had to- but that would mean not being able to afford health insurance, car payments (in my roommates' cases), bus pass (in my case), or even the smallest bit of savings. This is in New England where I make a fairly decent salary for a fresh-college grad. My roommates, less so.
It's amazing to me that so many people forget about those of us living on the edge. I'm in a better situation than most and don't want to push my roommates to the brink, but many don't have the option of CHOOSING to go without. And soon, it will not be an option for us.
Filling our tank is around $900 a pop and we have to pay it all at once. It's not just the elderly that struggle with that.
I'm a 22 year old in the US and my two roommates (both in their 20s) and I cannot afford heat. It's currently 21 degrees outside (and, according to weather.com, feels like 11 degrees) and we do not have our heat on. We will turn it on to the lowest heat possible when we go to sleep just to make sure our pipes don't freeze. I'm currently wearing a sweater and a hoody and under 6 blankets in the house because it's 50 in the house.
We are not in abject poverty and could probably afford to heat the house more if we absolutely had to- but that would mean not being able to afford health insurance, car payments (in my roommates' cases), bus pass (in my case), or even the smallest bit of savings. This is in New England where I make a fairly decent salary for a fresh-college grad. My roommates, less so.
It's amazing to me that so many people forget about those of us living on the edge. I'm in a better situation than most and don't want to push my roommates to the brink, but many don't have the option of CHOOSING to go without. And soon, it will not be an option for us.
Filling our tank is around $900 a pop and we have to pay it all at once. It's not just the elderly that struggle with that.
You don't matter. You're not European. You probably don't even exist.
I suggest a down comforter. I'd also suggest better government but between the Dem's spinelessness and the Rep's aversion to welfare for anyone but the rich you're probably out of luck.
The more elderly who freeze to death the lesser the burden on their overburdened socialized health system.
At least Obama will offer a "blue pill".
Even in a "Socialist Utopia" someone must pull the strings.
So everyone gets "whatever they need". Remember the Soviet Union?
I don't want any government telling me what I can and cannot do.
A top leader where I work is 40 yrs. old. He came from China and was at Tiananmen Square when all hell broke loose.
He has earned his way up the ladder of our company over 20 years.
To hear him speak ( corporately or otherwise ) you would understand that Obama's Blue Pill is not the answer - by any measure.
I've had enough of this stupidity. If someone has decided that they can't make it on their own in a free society, then they have already decided their fate.
If they think that they might freeze. Then they should consider moving South.
That's because they've never been poor in America - and if they had, I'm sure they'd prefer being poor in the US.
The average poor America has more living space than the average (not poor - just average) citizen living is Paris, London and other cities in Europe. Almost 75% own a car, 97% own a color tv and 76% have air conditioning.
Only a very, very small portion of poor households in this country have severe housing problems - and you know what the biggest severe problem is? Sharing another bathroom with residents of another property.
Seriously?
I don't own a car- nor do most young people I know out of economic necessity. I don't have air conditioning and can't afford the electricity to power one anyway. I have a 15 year old hand-me-down color tv that isn't plugged in- only pay for cable because I moved into an apartment where that was an established thing (and unfortunately, my roommates won't budge on it no matter how ridiculous it is).
In places like Paris and London, you can't even factor in cars or air conditioning. You would have to be ridiculous, insane, and incredibly wealthy to warrant having a car in either city. Driving and parking is a nightmare and public transportation to pretty much anywhere in England and France is easy to come by. In the US it's difficult for me to exist on public transportation even 10 miles out of one of the country's best areas for public transport (Boston). Few places even have air conditioning in Europe and, let's face it, unless you live in the sunbelt you really don't need it in the US either. That's what fans are for.
Have you ever seen American poverty? Go to an inner city. Go to places like Mississippi, rural South Carolina, abandoned mill towns. People die of preventable diseases because they can't afford healthcare. That doesn't happen in Europe. When I studied abroad in England (on a full scholarship), I got some of the first routine healthcare I had in years because my family was unable to afford anything but emergencies. My brother has not been to the doctor in 4 years because he can't afford it- the working poor. My European friends are horrified when I tell them about how I have to put off seeing an endocrinologist because I can't afford it, so I have to suffer instead.
Europe has it's problems but I'd rather be poor in Europe any day of the week. Who cares about living space or cars when you have healthcare and reasonable public transportation?
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This happened last year too, old people were out and about in the cold and died from it.
