Firefighters Watch As Home Burns To The Ground

This is a few weeks old, but it's worthy nonetheless. Don't be shocked. Firefighting is not a right, it's a service, but before I mount the soapbox, here's the article.

 

The homeowner, Gene Cranick, said he offered to pay whatever it would take for firefighters to put out the flames, but was told it was too late.  They wouldn't do anything to stop his house from burning.

Each year, Obion County residents must pay $75 if they want fire protection from the city of South Fulton. 

But the Cranicks did not pay.

The mayor said if homeowners don't pay, they're out of luck.

This fire went on for hours because garden hoses just wouldn't put it out. It wasn't until that fire spread to a neighbor's property, that anyone would respond.

Turns out, the neighbor had paid the fee.

It's called Personal Responsibility, dumbass. Mr. Cranick knowingly lived in an area without fire service. He knowingly refused to pay the service fee. He's an adult and knows what he was doing. He made his bed, so he should sleep in it. Perhaps next time he'll pay for the service. You should see the comments section of Gizmodo or facebook, sheesh! "It's not humanitarian." "The family is homeless." "They should have..." This all comes down to entitlement. These whiners are the same group that forces others to help the poor. This is the same group that forces others to pay for their medical insurance. This is the same group that lowers standards at school to let the "slow boy" graduate. Morally, how is this even fair to those that paid? Some commenters have said that the firefighters should have put the fire out then charge him out the wazoo. Perhaps, but then others homeowners wouldn't pay until they needed it. That's not how it works.

I suppose we could extend the argument to police or medical services, and guess what. It still would/should apply. You don't have a right to police or medical services. If you didn't pay up from the beginning, then there shouldn't be an expectation of service. It's sad to see so many people throw away personal empowerment. In most cases police and medical paid through taxes or insurance, so even if you don't want it or you don't like it, you still have to pay up, and they are notoriously inefficient and overpriced. You also don't have freedom of choice. Mr. Cranick did and he enjoyed not paying the fee until he needed it. If all of these services were privatized, people would be more sensitive to their performance and have a stronger say in how they conduct their business, not to mention that competition would drive costs down.

Here is the fire chief explaining things, the next day.

There's more, but it's mostly condemnation from other people that think the bills will be paid for by leprechauns.