I was watching Dateline NBC and caught an interesting story about contractors supposedly defrauding homeowners. I say supposedly because the investigation was not all that thorough and was clearly slanted in favor the their message, “BEWARE THE BIG, BAD, CONTRACTORS.”
I am okay with them using hyperbole in telling their stories… heck, that is what all these “news” magazine shows do. What struck me more than the horrible investigatory piece, was the subjects they chose to portray as the victims. People with multi-million dollar home improvement projects. Uh… sure, I can relate – NOT!
Maybe the contractors were evil, wicked, mean, and nasty – although I believe the truth is somewhere a little more toward guilty of mismanagement – but come on… how am I to feel sorry for a woman who had to spend an extra $100,000 on a $2 million home improvement? How does putting her on the screen sobbing about how this has total shaken her family’s foundation, supposed to resonate with me? The kitchen she was crying in was worth more than the salary of most Americans.
Is her loss any more devastating to her bottom line than paying the deductible on your auto insurance the next time you have a fender-bender? Wake up and notice your audience NBC.
NBC – Nothing But Clueless?
$2million or $100,000, wrong is wrong.
The only people who would not have some compassion for these people are either heartless or republican.
Wrong is wrong… that is correct. But wrong is also not telling the other side of the story and painting the contractors as evil thieves. This is not journalism, this is fabricated hype.
I have plenty of compassion for the victims. The point was that NBC is clueless – not that the victims are bad people.
It is obvious though, you are not interested in a discussion about the subject of the post. Instead, you have an agenda to slam Republicans.
Way to stereotype while playing the great defender of right… nice irony there.
“It is obvious though, you are not interested in a discussion about the subject of the post. Instead, you have an agenda to slam Republicans.”
What is your point?
I’ve discussed this issue about bad contractors for over 10 years. I’ve challenged people to debate it but no one is stupid enough to do it.
I’ve seen people get ripped off, old, young, newly wed, you name it, and Ive seen it. And there is NOTHING in Texas to help them. Or in the US either.
The Dateline show just scratched the surface of this abuse. It is much much worse.
http://www.trccwatch.com
Yes, there is something that can help them – their own intelligence. You do not have to be a victim to bad contractors. You can take steps to protect your property, you can do background checks, you can insist on them being bonded, you can even consult organizations like your own.
I applaud what you are working toward, but the point of the original post in no way defended crappy contractors. It pointed out what I saw as stupidity in NBCs choice of victims.