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.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Knock yourself out.
Let me guess...because they decided not to?
Mr. Tokra does seem to be stuck on stupid.
No, Mr. Tokra is surprised to find out that one of the basic reasons governments even exist doesn't exist in some areas.
No, Mr. Tokra is surprised to find out that one of the basic reasons governments even exist doesn't exist in some areas.
And getting stucker by the minute. 8^D
Obviously not.
Just who is stuck on stupid?
I think local government is a function of the local people, not vice-versa.
In this case, the local people decided to set up a volunteer fire department.
The concept is called "freedom."
Ever hear of it?
Amazing how some equate ability to obligation.
I have the ability to shovel snow. Doesn't mean I'm gonna dig every neighbor out of the next blizzard unless I choose to.
I think that your statement is profoundly obtuse.
Many people actually learned some lessons on morality from religion sources along the way and took them to heart. Many of these people are conservatives.
Here's a story told by someone that you may have missed along the way.
“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?
I suspect that you will be totally unwilling to acknowledge the lesson here and see how it applies. I suspect you will cite only the difference that make this story too different to apply.
BTW, sometimes, not always, ability does obligate.
You don't know me well enough to know what I have or haven't done, or how many times I've intervened to protect life and limb, whether paid or unpaid, so I suggest you shut up before you look even more stupid.
Oh, you admit to exceptions? Do tell, I'm sure you're the ultimate authority on when someone has to do something that doesn't directly affect life and limb when they don't freely choose to do it.
Well when Dagney had the problem with the switches in the main railroad station those men could of said "Ain't my job lady" like the fire chief.
The actions of the escapees to go and rescue John Galt at the end without financial reward to themselves is what I am talking about. You help the people you know who is in dire strights, maybe this Mexican was an ahole and deserved it and in that case fine I have no problem.
I do have a problem if the Fire Department has made exceptions for nonpaying White members and said screw this mexican because he is one of "Them".
As for losing money on a deal. Let me explain myself I grew up in small town america. Those Mom and Pop stores and supermarkets I dwelt with never ever lost money on a deal. They lost money on losing sales but not on the item the buyer bought. They had everything overpriced figuring that no one was going to drive 40 miles to the bigger town because a case of Pepsi was $6.45 vrs $4.45. Of course soon everyone did start driving so what did the locals do? increase the prices to make up for the losses. Only problem with that kind of thinking was some wise men like Sam Walton figured out that if you gave the customer a good deal and even lost money saleing some items you could make it up in volume.
How many dues is going to be needed for that Fire Department
to defend itself against the lawsuit that I bet is coming. Penny wise and pound foolish.
So you prefer the Income Tax system where jail is threatened and the government can grow big at the trough? There is some tax systems out there that is a lot more voluntary than ours and I can think of a lot of stuff to cut.
But the United States isn't small town and rural America where everyone knows everyone. Small town America is where people hold bake sales and put collection boxes in their businesses if some local is needing medical treatment. It is where neighbors goes out and harvests a farmers crop because he is unable to do so.
Smalltown America is also where revenge happens. I am thinking Mokane Missouri was where the town mayor got shot after he shot someones dog. I wouldn't want to be that Fire Chief because this ain't Mayberry but more like Twin Peaks and there has been some grisly events in that area from an uncaught strangler killing a Monett woman to a woman setting her husband afire at the nearby town of Verona.
The firefighters are behaving EXACTLY like both Government workers, with their carefully proscribed limits to what they can and will and will not do, and the worst kind of Union labor, which operates by the same basic guidelines.
You would think that ( in spirit, at least) this type of voluntaristic mindset would make the firemen different and better, but in fact they are WORSE. It's the same thing as not paying property taxes, and eventually losing your home, and with it of course, the need to have it saved in the event of a fire.
Speaking of obtuse...you do understand that if there are no negative consequences, there are no bad decisions, right? And no need for change...
The person who helped the traveler is showing Christian charity, not rewarding foolishness and irresponsibility. Anyone helping this guy out of his foolishness is not showing Christian charity, but rewarding foolishness and irresponsibility.
My bet is that you go postal one of these fine days.
Oh E. I think I will be your friend. Anyone who goes to personal insults over this issue needs a hug. You obviously has had a bad day or life or improper upbringing to act like a jerk so I am here for you boy. All is forgiven and forgotten and I will work with you if you want to deal with your "Issues".
Nor I. I love the discussion thread. FR tends to be libertarian, pro private business, pro personal responsibility. But, this discussion is largely nanny state, IMHO.
The guy would have known that to get the service, he had to pay for the service. He chose not to pay for the service. His garage burnt down. And the problem is?
LOL. No doubt each one who thought this guy should have received free protection, regardless of the community folks who chose to fund a volunteer subscription fire service, provided that funding through subscription, and required that those who received the service must pay for it in advance, would also provide their goods and services for free. Or maybe they would provide their goods and services with the understanding that only if the individual who got the good or service felt it was worth it, paid.
A government funded fire station is a completely different matter, as government agencies are in theory founded for the good of the general public and paid for by taxes - probably both local and federal. Therefore, I believe they would be obligated to assist if no other assistance was available.
It appears to me that basically the guy made a bet, by not purchasing the service, and lost.
"It appears to me that basically the guy made a bet, by not purchasing the service, and lost."
That's exactly what happened. It is the same bet as not carrying ouse insurance.
He lost.
That would be "house" insurance.
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