Underpaid 83-Year-Old Professor Died Trying to Make Ends Meet by Working Night Shift at Eat an' Save

[Sheldon Cooper]

64. I think it's okay to ask questions, and look further into the story.

I did that in the thread yesterday, and apparently that makes me a horrible person.

I do wonder how we can better reach out to and help our seniors. This poor woman was destitute, even before Duquesne fired her. How do we combat that kind of extreme poverty? I wondered yesterday if she qualified for social security and medicare to help with bills - I guess I'm an unfeeling asshole for daring to ask about that.

But the question should be asked - there are resources that could have helped her but it sounds like she was rather proud and didn't want charity, if I'm reading into it correctly. Some older folks get that way. Poverty is nothing to be ashamed of, but when you have to work night shift at Eat 'N Park and sleep in your office because you can't heat your home, perhaps you should think about reaching out. My mother is elderly, living on a fixed income, and she keeps her house so cold in the winter. She's trying to stretch out her tank of propane because it's so expensive. But my siblings and I worry about her possibly getting hypothermia, going to bed and never waking up. We've offered to chip in and fill her propane tank as needed, but she refuses. Even if we went against her wishes and filled her tank anyway, she'd still keep the heat down. She's a proud and independent woman, and unless or until she can no longer take care of herself, there's basically nothing we can do.

I don't know what the answer is. It's a very kneejerk response to heap scorn and hate on Duquesne, although I find their actions to be despicable and more than worthy of criticism. The whole situation with adjuncts sounds terrible, and I'm glad they're getting unions involved. Duquesne's excuse for not wanting unions if fucking laughable, and directly contradicts the teachings of the church of my youth.

There is a bigger picture to be examined, however. This woman is not the only senior who is in dire straits. What is the solution? We are a big, compassionate country and there must be a better way.

I don't know, I'm talking to myself here, so maybe this doesn't make a lot of sense.