Please be sure to place a big sign on your head/chest the next time a disaster comes your way that reads:
"If you are trying to rescue me, and the equipment you are using is not your property, legally and fairly compensating the owner if it isn't, then please pass me by."
So the "authorities on hand were not doing the job, there were boats sitting in the rising water doing nothing, the owners were no-where around, and there were people needing rescuing. If I were in that situation, I would commandeer the boat and help folks out. I could not sit by and cover my own tail and let others die or whatever.
And exactly how was the guy to get the boat back to the owner? The original article says that the boat was already sitting in water (flood water was already up in the owner's yard enough to float the boat), and this was when the waters first started coming up. I guess he could have rammed the boat into the owner's home to secure it?
And it also appears that the boat was still being used to rescue people after he was evacuated.
I can understand the frustration over a lost boat that you spent your hard-earned (I assume) money on. But how selfish when there are much bigger concerns right now.
I can't see any difference between those arguing in favor of suing a rescuer over a boat in such an extraordinary circumstance and those on the left who want all the benefits of freedom without ever having to pay the costs (refuse to fight for it.)
Both groups are Freedom's Freeloaders.
My neighbor's portable generator was stolen from outside his garage last year. Would you argue that if the thief took it to carry off to New Orleans during the flood, then my neighbor should hail and celebrate and indemnify the thief?