House Burns Down, Pets Die While Fireman Watch

[BadMoon]

Too many people are cheap and would rather take the risk that they won't need these in the future and then wind up screwed if there comes a time when they do.

Case in point. Oh uh I thought theyed come anyways. Gollie!

 

[Skiman]

I think the one thing that everyone is wondering is........
































"Was there a Dr. Doom Premium Format #125 in the house?"

 

[BadMoon]

I think the one thing that everyone is wondering is........
































"Was there a Dr. Doom Premium Format #125 in the house?"

Are you kidding me? The owner never would have purchased such a high ticket item. Or maybe he did and that's why he didn't pay the $75.

 

[Skiman]

Are you kidding me? The owner never would have purchased such a high ticket item. Or maybe he did and that's why he didn't pay the $75.

Bad

 

[Kamandi]

I think the more appropriate action would have been to put out the fire and hit the guy with a ticket or fine for not keeping up with his fee. Life is so full of fees and licenses it would be pretty easy to overlook or accidentally let lapse such a fee. No need to punish the animals over it.

A annual fee is such a po-dunk way to fund a fire dept. In most cities the police and fire fees are built into property and other local taxes.

 

[BadMoon]

I think the more appropriate action would have been to put out the fire and hit the guy with a ticket or fine for not keeping up with his fee. Life is so full of fees and licenses it would be pretty easy to overlook or accidentally let lapse such a fee. No need to punish the animals over it.

A annual fee is such a po-dunk way to fund a fire dept. In most cities the police and fire fees are built into property and other local taxes.

Maybe you haven't read the story? The fire department is covered by city taxpayers. The rural people do not pay such taxes. So they are charged a fee (far lower than the taxes) for their services. They are expected to pay this in order to have service.

While I do AGREE there should be some middle ground, I don't agree that they should have put it out and then tried to recoup money. You can google it. Rural fire departments that have done this are paid less than 50% of the time. So good luck getting their money. Also what message would this send to residents? You can bet some would think well I just won't pay anymore because they will take care of it. So there is no incentive for them to pay their bill.

Personally and I don't think I have offered my actual possible solution would be this. If people are poor and need assistance to cover the $75 fee that's fine. There should be a strict approval process for this. Ultimately guess who's going to be paying (taxpayers in the city more then likely)? Or charge the rural folks $90 and use the additional funds (over $75) to help EACH OTHER out who are in need. However, this program shouldn't be put in place to cover the slacker that just didn't feel like paying or just doesn't head to that side of town to pay.

 

[Skiman]

I think this guy should win in a court of law and have the FD rebuild his house.

 

[BadMoon]

I think this guy should win in a court of law and have the FD rebuild his house.

Oh he will probably sue and make millions. Probably have a statue put up in his honor. This country breeds idiots. That's why they thrive.

We pay their bills

Pay their medical

Feed them

House them

Pretty much everything. Hell we even give money to robbers when they get hurt trying to break into someones home.

So yeah why not? Hell we should buy this guy a private island and give him a few females to boot. That way he can breed more idiots!

And guess who will fit the bill? Taxpayers. You know the people that actually pay their bills.

 

[Skiman]

Oh he will probably sue and make millions. Probably have a statue put up in his honor. This country breeds idiots. That's why they thrive.

We pay their bills

Pay their medical

Feed them

House them

Pretty much everything. Hell we even give money to robbers when they get hurt trying to break into someones home.

So yeah why not? Hell we should buy this guy a private island and give him a few females to boot. That way he can breed more idiots!

Hero is the term for that.

Hero

Also probably deserves a year of free Double Downs from the good ole Kernel Harland Sanders

 

[devilof76]

Sadly, I think if we had an ala carte type of service, many people would not pay for any of those. I don't have kids - but I'm happy to help out with education. These kids are going to be running our country and I want well educated people in charge when I'm in old. I want kids to have a chance at a successful future - even if they are not my kids.

And if someone didn't pay a road bill - are there going to be check points to make sure you don't drive on that road unless you paid the fee? I don't see how that would work. We need roads, how they could make that an option doesn't make sense to me.

I think a lot of people would be happy to only have to pay for their own use of these services, and I think it would be no problem to forbid use of services if someone didn't contribute. Police pull people over for suspended licenses now; it's no different in principle.

There would obviously be a lot to work out (like how to educate kids of parents who can't afford it). That doesn't mean it's impossible.

I think services like education, fire, police, emergency, roads, etc should all be mandatory. These are things we need and rely on and shouldn't be optional if you choose to live here.

Police I agree with, because you can't have people hiring what would amount to private security firms with the power to arrest and kill if need be. That would be madness.

I don't see how any of the others need mandatory funding. Private emergency services work. I don't think private roads would be so hard either. Society is wealthy enough to provide the taxes needed for upkeep; they would still be wealthy enough to finance what they need to get around. Same with schools. The one true benefit of privatization would be the fact that private investors have a strong motivation to perform. Government never risks losing money because it can always find more. A private institution needs to generate it's own wealth. Efficiency and profitability would be necessary for economic survival.

When the need to maintain itself by its own effort is absent, we get what we have today, where a great deal of what is being provided to us is not worth what it costs.

I think sadly we would see more instances like this one, with this guys house burning down, if these services were optional. Too many people are cheap and would rather take the risk that they won't need these in the future and then wind up screwed if there comes a time when they do.

I think people would eventually learn. Our ancestors came from Europe not knowing how to live without feudal masters, and they did a damned good job of figuring it out (if the people who lived in this country in first half of the 20th century are any indication).

 

[BadMoon]

Hero is the term for that.

Hero

Also probably deserves a year of free Double Downs from the good ole Kernel Harland Sanders

Oh I think this gentleman knows Mr. Sanders quite well.

 

[Skiman]

Oh I think this gentleman knows Mr. Sanders quite well.

You guys should be pals.

I would consider you as my hero

 

[BadMoon]

You guys should be pals.

I would consider you as my hero

If we were pals maybe I could get some of that settlement money?

 

[Skiman]

If we were pals maybe I could get some of that settlement money?

If you got that settlement money, we could be pals

 

[The Ween]

Maybe you haven't read the story? The fire department is covered by city taxpayers. The rural people do not pay such taxes. So they are charged a fee (far lower than the taxes) for their services. They are expected to pay this in order to have service.

While I do AGREE there should be some middle ground, I don't agree that they should have put it out and then tried to recoup money. You can google it. Rural fire departments that have done this are paid less than 50% of the time. So good luck getting their money. Also what message would this send to residents? You can bet some would think well I just won't pay anymore because they will take care of it. So there is no incentive for them to pay their bill.

Personally and I don't think I have offered my actual possible solution would be this. If people are poor and need assistance to cover the $75 fee that's fine. There should be a strict approval process for this. Ultimately guess who's going to be paying (taxpayers in the city more then likely)? Or charge the rural folks $90 and use the additional funds (over $75) to help EACH OTHER out who are in need. However, this program shouldn't be put in place to cover the slacker that just didn't feel like paying or just doesn't head to that side of town to pay.

People in our rural areas, I used to be one, paid through property taxes that went to the county. Believe me, they can fund this through property taxes no matter where you live. Why they didn't is beyond me.

 

[Jen]

People in our rural areas, I used to be one, paid through property taxes that went to the county. Believe me, they can fund this through property taxes no matter where you live. Why they didn't is beyond me.

Because the residents voted against it because they didn't want their taxes raised and would rather pay an annual fee. And no politicians wanted to back it because they didn't want to be the one to raise taxes.

 

[The Ween]

Because the residents voted against it because they didn't want their taxes raised and would rather pay an annual fee. And no politicians wanted to back it because they didn't want to be the one to raise taxes.

Like I said before, if it's a fee, it can be added without a vote. That's how it's done here anyway. My water bill for example has two fees listed on it. You have no choice other than to pay it.

My property taxes automatically help pay for city services. Now when they want more, then they put it up for vote for an increase.

I don't understand where their county figures into all of this. Who takes care of them for police, ambulance or other services?

 

[devilof76]

You have municipal ambulance service?

 

[The Ween]

You have municipal ambulance service?

It's tied in with our fire dept.

 

[devilof76]

Here, they're independent, usually hired by a hospital, or employed directly. I guess some of the outlying areas have municipal rescue. I had an ambulance bill for a town I didn't live in, and the bill came from the Town of Yarmouth. Half of it ended up paid with a tax credit.

I live 5 miles from Central Maine Medical Center, and I've never seen a Lewiston ambulance.