tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post6827758198489866177..comments2023-11-20T06:05:20.853-05:00Comments on WIG & PEN:Excursions in Lateral Thinking from Amherst,Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley: Amherst, Massachusetts Contemplates Moral HazardWig & Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15883988890861506854noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-70407780426069576822012-03-04T23:37:44.668-05:002012-03-04T23:37:44.668-05:00Well, it's not like these people aren't ge...Well, it's not like these people aren't getting paid anyway... the cost is the same, whether they are hanging out at the station house or on an active "technical rescue".<br /><br />A better way to deal with the cost is to eliminate the government component, and have everyone pay a "Fire Department Bill" just like we pay electrical bills or other utilities. And yes, I advocate extending this concept to every other "government service" including police, ambulance, and even road upkeep.<br /><br />And yes, failure to pay your "Fire Bill" means that your house burns down if it catches fire. The department will still show up, to prevent adjoining properties from being damaged by your own idiocy, but your home goes down. Unless you have insurance that will pay the bill for you (which most mortgages will insist on).<br /><br />Privatize, privatize, privatize... and watch the costs go down, down, down - as you only pay for what is essential, not the half-a hundred million dollars worth of do-nothing government bureaucrats who suck up most of the money the way things are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-19971946045239839782012-03-04T17:21:31.633-05:002012-03-04T17:21:31.633-05:00I am a volunteer firefighter in a mountainous part...I am a volunteer firefighter in a mountainous part of NY. Last winter, we had 20 guys involved in rescuing two jackholes off the side of a mountain with two feet of ice covered snow, in the dark, and the slope was about 70 degrees. <br /><br />It took 7 hours.<br /><br />Yeah, there should be a penalty. Maybe a criminal reckless endangerment charge. Or me being allowed to punch them in the face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-17292289453742051432012-03-04T17:08:16.556-05:002012-03-04T17:08:16.556-05:00Nature, like the sea, is allows no mistakes.
Howe...Nature, like the sea, is allows no mistakes.<br /><br />However, as a society, we should do what we can to help our less-intelligent brothers.<br /><br />I think a reasonable approach would be, "The first one is free. The second time, you pay for it. The third time, you're on your own".<br /><br />I remember a story of a man who was trapped by a boulder out in the wilderness, and escaped by cutting his arm off.ZZMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16913899667726940233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-16407734135715796062012-03-04T15:18:55.396-05:002012-03-04T15:18:55.396-05:00People should be paying back for welfare benefits ...People should be paying back for welfare benefits too in the case where it is a forseeable result of their actions that they do not have a job, can't support their children, etc.Brian Mackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10186974009384447015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-73186329620812813782012-03-04T13:28:39.940-05:002012-03-04T13:28:39.940-05:00Ah, community service. An escape clause from suffe...Ah, community service. An escape clause from suffering consequences for your actions. I've got a better idea. Treat the costs like taxes owed. File a lien on the individual who can't or won't pay and garnish their wages. Any payment plan will have higher interest than a bank. You will then be amazed at the ability of people to come up with the money.nemesis443https://www.blogger.com/profile/17341883291616347313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-45947393602022817622012-03-04T13:02:51.924-05:002012-03-04T13:02:51.924-05:00Is the fire department a private company in the bu...Is the fire department a private company in the business of generating revenues (and maximizing profits), or is it a taxpayer funded enterprise? What is the purpose of the "technical rescue squad," if not to perform emergency rescues? Were other rescues delayed/not made because every available resource was attending to this rescue? Are such services to go to the highest bidder? Couldn't an effective rescue have occurred with only a dozen responders--with the resultant cost one-third of that claimed by the town manager? Is hiking at night to be prohibited? Will state parks and recreation areas need to be staffed round the clock so as to prevent reckless or intentional behavior--such as hiking?<br /><br />These are not intended as rhetorical questions, but as a reminder of the unintended consequences of (frivilously contemplating) governments running fee-for-service emergency services. Fire Departments--paid and volunteer professionals--have always responded first, and asked questions after the fact. If local governments find themselves stretched thin for revenues, perhaps they should first look to non-emergency services for economy.<br />--ForbesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-45064414056620676632012-03-04T12:20:07.316-05:002012-03-04T12:20:07.316-05:00SBW, I think that's brilliant!
It's proba...SBW, I think that's brilliant!<br /><br />It's probably unconstitutional in some way I haven't imagined yet, but it's justice.Martin L. Shoemakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02554126977342152497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-45862018692804102832012-03-04T11:52:54.863-05:002012-03-04T11:52:54.863-05:00Someone tell me why we pay taxes. Why
are we payin...Someone tell me why we pay taxes. Why<br />are we paying for services and then <br />have to pay again and again? Let's<br />dispense with government workers, hire private companies, and reduce<br />taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-44171049953561491502012-03-04T10:23:37.693-05:002012-03-04T10:23:37.693-05:00Colorado adds $0.25 to every hunting license as a ...Colorado adds $0.25 to every hunting license as a search and rescue fee.Simon Kentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569879198630338210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-4729424036855888702012-03-04T10:16:54.520-05:002012-03-04T10:16:54.520-05:00Bushwacker -
A novel and commendable concept.Bushwacker - <br /><br />A novel and commendable concept.MEC2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1636747356450108593.post-67862751041523340932012-03-03T14:47:12.797-05:002012-03-03T14:47:12.797-05:00Community services could perhaps be paid back in c...Community services could perhaps be paid back in community service?<br /><br />SBWThe Suburban Bushwackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09372690405902840131noreply@blogger.com