Firefighters Watch a Man's House Burn Down

[Woodsprite]

This particular subject made me immediately think of how Zenit Yerkes was talking about how much a hold money has...

...And I never truly understood what he meant until I read this article just a few minutes ago:

In rural Obion County, homeowners must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton. If they don't pay the fee and their home catches fire, tough luck -- even if firefighters are positioned just outside the home with hoses at the ready.

Gene Cranick found this out the hard way.

When Cranick's house caught fire last week, and he couldn't contain the blaze with garden hoses, he called 911. During the emergency call, he offered to pay all expenses related to the Fire Department's defense of his home, but the South Fulton firefighters refused to do anything.

They did, however, come out when Cranick's neighbor -- who'd already paid the fee -- called 911 because he worried that the fire might spread to his property. Once they arrived, members of the South Fulton department stood by and watched Cranick's home burn; they sprang into action only when the fire reached the neighbor's property.

Rural Tennessee fire sparks conservative ideological debate | The Upshot Yahoo! News - Yahoo! News



This is a complete outrage. A total outrage... I had to post this as a topic; this was just too much for me.

[Isard]

This is why taxes shouldn't be optional.

[Советский меч]

The pay or highway rule is completely unfair but the firefighters most likely stood around because the fire was to much and the best thing to do would be to let it burn and control it from there, its not uncommon.

[Advent]

Originally Posted by Harvester of Sorrow

The pay or highway rule is completely unfair but the firefighters most likely stood around because the fire was to much and the best thing to do would be to let it burn and control it from there, its not uncommon.

They had all the tools to deal with it. They didn't do anything because they weren't payed for it.

[Isard]

Term quoted from the article.

compassionate conservative

zomg communism!

[Tsyal Makto]

Originally Posted by Aihwa

This is why taxes shouldn't be optional.

This. 110%.

See how well libertarian economics works?

[Human No More]

That's America for you

[Advent]

Originally Posted by Human No More

That's America for you

Sorry to any Americans, but I find the situation pretty damn bad. The firefighters here are heroes, judging by their actions in the 2009 bushfires.

And yes. Taxes shouldn't be optional. Especially on life or property threatning things.

[Советский меч]

Originally Posted by Advent

They had all the tools to deal with it. They didn't do anything because they weren't payed for it.

Missed the point. Alot of times firefighters just let the place burn because its already past the saving point. Instead the just control it so it doesnt spread.

[Woodsprite]

You don't understand; you didn't read the whole article. The firefighters were aware of the fire long before it had gotten to the point beyond saving; the man called them and nothing was done until his neighbor called later. And even if it was beyond saving (which it wasn't), they would have to put it out anyway to eliminate the extreme danger to other nearby houses. The firefighters did nothing precisely because of money.

But America isn't normally like this; that's why I said before, "This is an outrage," because normally our firefighters are the bravest men we have in the country. Think about the WTC bombing. This is not a normal situation, and I'm very appalled and saddened that this could happen at all; it has sparked a big debate.

Originally Posted by Aihwa

Term quoted from the article.

zomg communism!

...?

[Advent]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

You don't understand; you didn't read the whole article. The firefighters were aware of the fire long before it had gotten to the point beyond saving; the man called them and nothing was done until his neighbor called later. And even if it was beyond saving (which it wasn't), they would have to put it out anyway to eliminate the extreme danger to other nearby houses. The firefighters did nothing precisely because of money.

But America isn't normally like this; that's why I said before, "This is an outrage," because normally our firefighters are the bravest men we have in the country. Think about the WTC bombing. This is not a normal situation, and I'm very appalled and saddened that this could happen at all; it has sparked a big debate.

This.

[Devourment]

More importantly, a cat died in the fire.

These bastards will be brought to justice.

[Advent]

Originally Posted by Devourment

More importantly, a cat died in the fire.

These bastards will be brought to justice.

A CAT DIED!?

Blood will be spilled...

[Sempu]

I suspect that the culprits are management/administrators. A firefighter is born to fight fires; that's what they do, they live for it. For a firefighter to see a fire and not try to stop it, something has to be holding them back.

There's bound to be a lawsuit about this (that's another "There's America for you" moment). This sounds like it violates any number of likely statutes that would take precedence over the payment of a fee. By analogy, hospitals are required to take someone in need of help regardless of their inability to pay. The requirement may be violated frequently, but they are actionable violations.

I decline to address the matter of the cat; my blood would boil.

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

You don't understand; you didn't read the whole article. The firefighters were aware of the fire long before it had gotten to the point beyond saving; the man called them and nothing was done until his neighbor called later. And even if it was beyond saving (which it wasn't), they would have to put it out anyway to eliminate the extreme danger to other nearby houses. The firefighters did nothing precisely because of money.

But America isn't normally like this; that's why I said before, "This is an outrage," because normally our firefighters are the bravest men we have in the country. Think about the WTC bombing. This is not a normal situation, and I'm very appalled and saddened that this could happen at all; it has sparked a big debate.


...?

Taxing for common fire service? That's a socialist policy. The right fights these Communists on all fronts of our government...

Till somebody actually does what they suggest, then its an "outrage". The tax was optional, the dumbass decided not to pay it. I feel bad for him as a fellow human being, but I have no sympathy for him as a person. Taxes, it keeps your food clean, your water pure, your property safe, and your house from burning to the ground.


I repeat, this is why taxes should NEVER be optional. Because some idiot chooses not to pay, and bitches when they cant reap the benefits of their taxation.