John MacPherson is an 86-year-old World War II veteran with a problem, one that Washington isn’t helping one bit this week.
While his six children raise families of their own across New England, he lives alone in his home in Dorchester, not far from his childhood home in South Boston. His problem: The fact that he receives fuel assistance probably means he is about to become a victim of the so-called sequester budget cuts.
Comments
This column bugs me for two reasons; first-if this was Mrs. MacPherson living alone in a house and in need of fuel assistance would the writer care? Second, we need to stop thinking that elderly people should stay in houses too big for them to care for independently. Fuel assistance needs to be for families in need and like welfare, not given without a plan to become self-sufficient.
To the first point, when does the statute of limitations for veterans milking their service end? Mr. MacPherson has had a long life and raised six children. Where are they that they all can't chip in to pay his heating bill? Was he a good father or did he spend his off hours in the local veteran's hall?
To the second point, if MR. MacPherson lives to be 100 in this house he'll be getting heating assistance for the next 14 years. Moving to a small apartment would solve this problem. Is this being pursued?
I believe in fuel assistance like I believe in welfare as a safety net, but a generation that we seem to believe is the Greatest Generation needs to set an example for living responsibly and as a society we need to help them.
You don't say what living responsibly entails? Are you saying you have the magic bullet to deal with the booming eldery population that earned every benefit they have with 30-50 years of hard work? Please enlighten us.
A statute of limitation for veterans miling their service? You ungrateful loser. You probably say like a zillion on other "dodgers" thank you for your service. Despicable. Disgusting.He was a combat veteran. Those of us who served in combat fought and bled for your sorry butt so you can tell an 86 year old vet he's a "taker". What do you think your attitude towards him is if it isn't being a "taker". Take his service, take the price he paid and throw it in the dirt. You are a real piece of work.
Old guy? Not rich? Served his country? Needs Social Security? What part of "NOT PART OF THE REPUBLICAN TEA PARTY"do you not understand? They will not compromise unless it can further protect fat cats who do not need any more protection. MacPherson needs some assistance so let him get a job the lazy bum!
Don't tell me, the scare tactics are working on you. Trust me all this could be avoided if the current administration would stop their divid and conquer tactics and actually work to compromise. It is not one partys fault and anyone who thinks it is, is a low information voter.
Mr. McPherson-Thank You for your service. It maybe that time when you think about downsizing out of the single family home in Dorchester? As we all get older we must rethink our fiscal positions in life. Maybe your kids could assist you with an inlaw apt. subsidized by the sale of your home. Many different options are out there . But only you can decide which direction to go--cuts in benefits are inevitable as are changes in the tax loopholes. Again--Thank You and Good Luck.
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Thank you and tough luck Mr. McPherson. You see I'll tell you what your kids should do even though I don't know their situation. I'll assume you haven't rethought your fiscal position and even assume that I know you can unload that house you are in. So Mr. McPherson thank you for doing what JohnDoe13 probably wouldn't do, but as John would say, "Your just a big loser, taker, what hasn't had the brains to consider all the things that John considers. But hey, thanks for your serives.
I'm glad neither you nor Mr. McPherson heard this stuff before we served because if we had we would have probably told these folks to kiss our ---.
Mr McPherson deserves to be warm and fed...PERIOD. If he was not a member of the armed services he should still be warm and fed. Being a veteran doesn't make his situation more pitiful.
Then why don't you pay for him? I'm sure you could find his address. Everyone needs to look at their own finances. If you can't pay your bills, you have to cut back. This man has SIX KIDS! They should step up and let him move in! Or maybe you should take him in.