Posted on 02/16/2006 3:52:53 PM PST by LouAvul
Edited on 02/16/2006 6:43:01 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
MONETT, Mo. (AP) - Rural firefighters stood by and watched a fire destroy a garage and a vehicle because the property owner had not paid membership dues.
Bibaldo Rueda - who was injured battling the flames Monday - offered to pay the dues as the fire blazed away, but the Monett Rural Fire Department does not have a policy for on-the-spot billing, Sheriff's Detective Robert Evenson said.
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I don't know about knowing what's "best" for people - I was just amazed to realize that here in America there are areas where basic government services are not provided. I'm not talking about museums, parks or garbage pick-up - I'm talking about basic police and fire protection.
If the people of that area voted NOT to provide themselves with fire protection - then God help them, they have the government which they deserve.
You are thinking people instead of households, assume about 4 people per household so that cuts 3/4 of your amount right there.
You are also assuming it's the city, it's not, it's rural so cut that number by a whole bunch more there as well. The city is taken care of by the city, this is the rural area that doesn't have near the population density.
Tell me - why do governments exist? If not to provide basic protections - what's the point?
Wow, it never occurred to me the government would pick up our trash. We have to pay for that too! Is that paid for in taxes where you are?
"where basic government services are not provided"
The services are provided, just not provided by the government.
Yes - I'm talking people. $80 a year in taxes for fire protection for a family of four sounds reasonable to me. Again, I go back to the question - if governments do not exist to provide basic protection - what is their function?
So, do they have a mercenary army for a police force? Is not fire protection just as important as police protection? If you've got a sheriff - you ought to have a fireman.
This was not a government entity.
This was an association of citizens who banded together to fill the need for a fire department where none existed.
They have no government powers.
Their only power is to withhold services from people who didn't help pay for the equipment and training.
I repeat: this volunteer fire department was not a government entity.
Why is that so difficult for you to comprehend? Are you a Bolshevik or something?
What happens if you don't pay your property taxes?
In the US, your property is seized by the county and sold at auction to pay the taxes.
Now consider...
What happens if you don't buy a fire tag? You run the RISK of having a fire and losing your property.
This sounds like a private firefighting company, sort of like insurance. Apparently taxes don't pay for firefighting. If you don't pay your dues, they don't put out your fire. Sounds fair to me. He took a gamble and lost.
See my post #324, how much do you pay in taxes for a 2000 sq ft home with 1/2 acre? I still say our way works better, if this guy wants his garage and vehicle taken care of by tax money, then go somewhere where it happens.
Our state and his area in particular don't want that as evidenced by the vote in 2001. He doesn't like it, move somewhere with higher taxes. Why should everyone here have to change because he moved here?
He claims ignorance yet his 3 other neighbors in very close proximity paid their dues, he of the 4 homes chose not to pay and then having a hissy fit because he wasn't covered anyway. What's a hoot is he could have moved here for the low cost of living and cheap taxes!
"Is not fire protection just as important as police protection? "
In my mind yes it is just as important, but these people have MADE THE CHOICE THEMSELVES how to fund their local fire services.
Do they not have that right?
How Marxist of you. From each according to his means. To each according to his needs. Subsume the needs of the individual to the needs of the proletariat.
There are also liability issues involved. You assume a duty, and the beneficiary isn't happy with the job you do, you are likely to be sued personally. So in addition to not having the income from the non-payers, the volunteers will have to insure against that risk.
Without stooping to name calling - you obviously are having trouble grasping MY point - there should not be a need for "private" fire departments in this country, anymore than there should be a need for "private" sheriffs.
If an area can't provide their own police protection - the township, county or state steps in and takes care of it.(obviously not for free) Why should fire protection be any different?
Do people band together and hire a private police force? When you get robbed do you have to prove to the police that you have paid your dues before they will go after the robber? How is that any different?
Even if it was a meth lab operation?
I'm not saying it was. The possibility exists though.
Okay, so you want to pass a law saying what?
All state governments must provide fire protection to all residents?
Or all county governments?
Or what?
What is the law you obviously want to pass going to say?
"Do people band together and hire a private police force?"
Yes they do in a way. They are called security. Money changes hands between the person wanting to secure their premises and assets and the person(s) wanting to provide that service.
When you get robbed, the police come out, investigate and try to find the perpetrator. Maybe they find them and MAYBE you get your property back. When you hire security, they stop the robbery from occurring in the first place.
Everbody understands that a fire department needs to be paid for, and by the people who benefit from it. That's not the point.
This is a not a fire department. If it were a fire department they would put out fires instead of standing around watching them.
Note that they deployed anyway. Obviously, whoever he called had his address, and they'd have immediately known whether he'd paid his protection money or not. But they deployed anyway. Why bother?
If I lived in the area, I'd have paid my protection money, but I would have also taken steps to install my own water tank and firefighting equipment, since the fire department is obviously of questionable dependability. Anybody that lives there is only one clerical error away from having their payment "lost".
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