I do not intentionally mischaracterize anybody's words. If I did, you have my apology.
What I read you saying through several posts with another person was that the actual rescue mission was strictly a private, voluntary effor and you made that point by explaining about the rescue teams being privately funded and them also being the only boots on the ground. My point was that public assets are being expended, even though there were no public employee or military boots on the ground (now you say you've learned there are, but that wasn't known then so that's fine). The subject was the cost and whether there should be reimbursement. Somebody else porposed a rather convoluted up-front payment system, but that wasn't I, if you were thinking it was. I don't take the view that without reimbursement there should be no rescue, and I haven't seen anyone else say that, although I haven't read every post by every poster. If the climbers didn't have two nickels to rub together, I would still want them to be rescued. But I do think it was foolish for them to go up there at this time. The fact that at least one is dead seems to prove the accuracy of this view, and it's one shared by many. I simply was pointing out that the rescue undertaking is not without financial cost to the taxpayers, and if some reimbursement can be made, it should.
Conservatives usually know that nothing is free whether the government provides it or not.
And one more time with feeling, the cost of the rescue mission, both private and public, is not and has not been my main concern about this tragedy.
That would be me. I did say and I still say that in these type of excursions I do believe either a waiver for rescue, a commitment by someone to pay the rescue or a rescue fee should be put forth before this type of activity is begun. These are rescues that are outside of the normal type of rescuses which I can't think of any that are not billed. ER is billed, fire department is billed, etc. The only other ones I can think of, and there are probably more, not billed are Coast Guard for boats, sailing, etc. Since it seems to be appropriate for many other risky type of lifestyles to be charged more (such as smoking) it seems only right that these risk takers pay their share also. My real feeling on all of this is LEAVE THE PEOPLE ALONE AND SCREW THE LIFESTYLE THING--we all feed at the Government Trouth. But many right here on FR are NANNYs and deny their free meals at the government trouth. I bet most of these activities (which require free rescue) are enjoyed by those people who can afford to purchase the expensive equipment.
"I do think it was foolish for them to go up there at this time. The fact that at least one is dead seems to prove the accuracy of this view
Oh where to start.