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Marvin Schur is dead.

Not because of - or at the hand of - an enemy having inflicted a mortal wound during combat; but, because of municipal policy and the arrogance, insolence and plain stupidity of Bay City, Michigan government officials.

Combat veteran Marvin Schur survived World War II; but he could not survive the advancing enemy of freezing temperatures that took over his house.

The severe cold - typical of winter in so many sections of the United States - did not the breach the walls of his Central Michigan house. Instead, the enemy cold stealthily materialized and attacked from within the walls - like a Trojan horse - permitted to enter by the power company - owned by Bay City, Michigan government - that cut off his electricity.

The tragedy that took Marvin E. Schur's life should never have happened.

When one is apprised of what Bay City, Michigan government reportedly does in situations where a resident is behind in their electricity payments, one can see this was indeed a 'tragedy just waiting to happen'. The fact that it did happen stands as evidence of the callous disregard, and what may be gross negligence, of city personnel. Here's why - recapped in the context of what Bay City reportedly did in the case of childless widower Mr. Schur.

Bay City ordered the electric meter removed from the outside of the Schur home, and replaced the meter with a "limiter" device to "restrict his use of power". When the "limiter" had "apparently reached it's limit" sometime during the night, the city installed device automatically cut off all electricity to the Schur residence - shutting down the furnace and blower system - and turning the house, within hours, into a freezer.

Mr. Schur's body was discovered by neighbors who told the local Bay City Times newspaper that "the indoor temperature was below 32 degrees at the time".

Neighbor George Pauwels said, "His (Schur's) furnace was not running, the insides of his windows were full of ice the morning we found him".

As a result, "Marvin E. Schur died 'a slow, painful death' said Kanu Virani, who performed the autopsy". The Oakland County (Michigan) deputy chief medical examiner added, "Hypothermia shuts the whole system down, slowly. It's not easy to die from hypothermia without first realizing your fingers and toes feel like they're burning."

In other words, if the 93 year old Mr. Schur experienced those burning sensations in his hands and feet, we might expect that he would have exited the freezer like conditions inside his home or telephoned for help. But, Mr. Schur's telephone service was also out. And, hypothermia causes disorientation. Still, Mr. Schur obviously attempted to fight the severe cold as best he could. When found, his body had multiple layers of clothes. On the kitchen table, neighbor Jim Herndon found the last "electric bill with cash attached for payment".

As Americans learn about what happened to Mr. Schur, almost all express outrage. Typically, most people jump to a conclusion based on their own prior perceptions, too often, without all relevant information. And, it didn't take long for both political and social partisans to find cause and place blame based on their chosen agendas. So, what ensued and, in many corners, is still underway can be bundled into and aptly described as what I call a "thought-free--for-all". Noteworthy, this included government officials working the media with the sole objective to avoid accountability for their prior actions, orders and directions.

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