a lot to be said for an all volunteer fire department like we have here i guess.
Posted on 10/03/2010 5:28:40 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Welcome to “Hope and Change!” Don’t forget to have somebody pay your firehouse “subscription”.
But Obama is president. They are entitled to free stuff at other folks expense. Just look at all the socialists chiming in there.
There’s the correct application of required economics, and then there’s barbarism.
This is barbarism. Legal, economically sound, barbarism.
When you get these kinds of results from logic, it’s time to examine the original question.
Because things escalate. And the same kind of economic logic that justified letting the house burn down, is being used to justify letting people die by being deprived healthcare.
Pure libertarian economics does not exist except in theory - in reality, you always have to deal with the inequalities. That’s why pure libertarianism always fails.
The trick, of course, is not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Because while the God of economics was served, what now happens to the community? You know, the one filled with human beings? The one that goes to church on Sunday? That one.
If its still confusing, here’s a hint: When firefighters stand around watching a house burn to the ground for purely financial reasons... THAT’S THE BABY.
According to the article:
“offering a pay-as-you-go service would mean upfront costs could not be met.”
Now that everyone understands how the system works, I’ll bet they’ll have plenty of money to meet upfront costs next year.
And you will have a team of 3-4 gov. employees probly w security...come to your house a debate the costs of your mothers or fathers medical care...They will have your DNA,Blood,and financial reports....
Oh and by the way mr______ you have a very nice car out there.....say is that your daughter?...you have 2 daughters?
Well well well it should only take a minute for me to sign this form mr_____and your wife can have all the medical care she might require...”RAMON” point the gun down”...”he gets a little enthusiastic you see..”RAMON this is a cleaNED house remember Stop hitting him...Sorry about that mr______dont even know why I brought him ...oh well gov. regulations you know...We can get this paper signed with your cooperation....ahh what was it an auto accident?ect ect ect..
I live in a rural area with a similar FD arrangement. You pay your membership fee. It’s pretty clear when they send the notices out that you have zero access to services if you don’t.
As the story notes, the firemen were on hand to protect the property of the neighboring owner. Everyone who lives in a rural FD area knows the rules.
These stories pop here from time to time, and they are usually misunderstood. There are no hydrants. It’s usually a couple of trucks with water tanks on the back. The resources are limited and you don’t expose the paying customers to extra harm by using up the water on the house that didn’t pay.
They tried to skimp on $75 and it didn’t pay off. It is sad that they lost all their possessions, but most of that would probably be lost in the smoke and water damage anyway. Their insurance will pay for the house and contents. Hopefully, they will choose to pay their membership fee in the future.
a lot to be said for an all volunteer fire department like we have here i guess.
Unionized ( Mob ) fire dept?
As I understand the article, the house was outside the town limits, and not on its tax rolls. The fire department is paid through the town’s taxes. This particular family/home owner was not paying taxes to the town, and also opted out of its subscription to fire protection services. They are not entitled to the town’s services.
Those living outside the town limits have the option to pay a $75/year subscription fee for the town’s fire services. They chose not to pay the fee.
It seems a harsh judgment, but the town and its taxpayers have to expend significant resources to buy equipment and other expenses of operating the fire department. If the fire department responded to this particular fire, it would certainly have removed any incentive to others similarly situated (outside town limits) to buy the optional subscription/insurance for fire protection services. Basically, everyone outside the town limits would be freeloading on the taxpayers within the town.
How about a situation where in the fire district a homeowner is behind on their taxes ,does the fire deparment check for that. The system sucks.
The volunteer fire company received a reward from the insurance company whose fire mark was on the burning building.
The nature of insurance is that you pay for it before you need it. The business model totally breaks down if people are allowed to get the service whenever they need it -- and only have to start paying premiums after the event occurs (if it ever does). That makes no economic sense.
Exactly.
If a fireman gets injured fighting a fire in a building not covered by the subscription the fireman may not be covered.
So you could end up having a gravely injured firefighter with no medical coverage because they felt charitable and fought a fire on a building not covered.
City people don’t know how to live ‘country’......and sometimes they’re not willing to learn.
Wow! Well said!
Frankly, I think almost all government "services" ought to be financed in the same manner. I mean, if you can get your garbage collected at a lower cost than the government charges you (usually through taxes), then why shouldn't you be able to use the lowest-cost service? Ditto schools - I'm paying enormous taxes to support a school system that I don't even use! Let the parents bear the cost of their own offspring, including the cost of education.
When I got married and moved to the other side of the state, they had a policy that you had to have a fire tag. Our neighbors(he was a volunteer fireman) made sure to tell us that we needed one, or they would let the place burn down.
It was hard for me to fathom, but we made sure to buy one on time each year. I understand the reason, but I would find it hard to just stand by and do nothing while someone else’s home went up in smoke.
Later we formed a fire protection district, so no more fire tags and no more watching homes burn to the ground. A better way to do it. Just my 2 cents.
But, there is a problem: there is another taxi service on the island. They charge a fee. Not only that, but this second taxi service is subsidized by the state of Maine. And they're losing money. They're actually in danger of going out of business. So -- you can see where this is going -- the second taxi company is suing the free taxi company, and trying to have the government shut them down.
The government-subsidized service is more expensive, and the power of the courts will be used to make darn sure that you have no access to cheaper alternatives.
This is what's wrong with our country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.