Free Cable Television Service at Risk for those in Public Housing

Thoughts from Freepers?

I know someone who is in a wheelchair and is overweight. The weight problem is due to health reasons. She's in her early 50's and COULD be sitting around all day in her chair, complaining and watching TV.

She's chosen to become active in the building she lives in, being active with their social activities. You see her around town, in the motorized wheelchair...sometimes, with her grandson on her lap. They're having a ball.

She goes to church and is active there, too. NOT sitting around!!!

My problem is NOT with this lady in this picture. My problem is with cable being offered for free. Period.

I see folks like this quite a bit these days...overweight in a motorized scooter/wheelchair. Are they fat ‘cuz they’re in a wheelchair, or are they in a wheelchair ‘cuz they’re fat? I know that’s a bit insensitive, but one has to wonder. Thoughts from Freepers?

Well, which ever it is it's obviously the fault of Big Food. (/sarcasm)

I have a job and I cant afford cable!
I had an elderly friend who lived in this type of housing complex for the last four years of her life.
She had worked her entire life,raised three kids, and none of them w(c)ould take her in, after she became completely disabled.If she were alive today,she probably would have been a blogger, and a frequent poster on forums such as FR.
I was never clear on why she lived in public housing, one of the three adult children made six figures.It is possible she refused to become a "burden" to them, or it might have impacted her Medicare of Social Security.I truly do not know.
They all visited her often,and they paid for her "extra's" like cable TV and phone bills.She read voraciously,as her only outings consisted of monthly grocery shopping and library visits. She was truly disabled, and became "obese" due to complications of the medications that prolonged her life.
I loved her very much.
That said, she would have been absolutely enraged about this situation.It is one thing to be in need of assistance for basic neccessities, which she considered paid for in advance in the form of lifelong SS taxes on her meager income.It is quite another to "demand or expect" luxury items.
Cable TV is a luxury item, as is internet access.

I do not advocate that these people have a 'right' to free cable just because they have been given it in the past. I emphatically agree that cable TV is a luxury. I was only responding to the other poster's ignorant comment that the people in this building should get jobs. These are not able-bodied (or in some cases able-minded) people.

That said, I refuse to get cable because past experience has taught me that cable TV operators rate somewhere between trial lawyers and used car dealers in sleazy-ness and un-trustworthy-ness.

Libraries are wonderful things. Books on tape, etc. She would never be bored if she was intertested. TV is a lazy advanture.

I agree. The article does state, however, that the sidewalks near her home are "crumbling" so I suspect getting out in the chair may be very difficult.

Once someone is large and likely has health problems and becomes used to staying in, it's difficult to change. The best thing would be to let the cable go and have some volunteers help her get out and about. Easier to just let her sit and watch tv. Maybe no one around her knows she needs that kind of assistance?

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