Originally Posted by
4G63
Is this really the best you've got Galen? I'm glad they brought up fire fighting as its a specialty of mine.
As a Professional Firefighter I can tell you that your LOCAL governments provide you (from taxes, not "free") with Police* , Fire, and Water services, not the Federal government. That's why I laughed at that cartoon you posted Galen.
The Fed will set Standards for the FD and public area's via NFPA (Federal and tax funded, not "Free"). Despite the video's best efforts in trying to say that Fire Service is "Free", it is completely and utterly wrong and incorrect. Your local taxes pay for whatever fire services are available (Paid and volunteer), and in some cases like Howard County, you're charged a "Rural Fire Tax" for being outside of City water. Its a tax, therefore you pay for it whether you use it or not. Also, local Volunteer firehouses are supplemented with fund-raisers and in most cases, provided with Local tax dollars to purchase equipment. Local governments, like Balto Co, will pay (tax funded, not "free") Volunteer stations that have a medic to be "Attended", which means they keep a crew available. Occasionally, the Fed provides grants (tax funded, not "free") via Homeland Security and/or FEMA.
Which brings me to my next point: Why aren't citizens forced to carry health insurance much like people are required to carry car insurance if they drive? I cannot leave my house and drive a vehicle and not carry insurance yet its a law and I'm required to carry it. How come those big, bad car insurance companies like GEICO (Buffett) and State Farm, etc., all make money for their shareholders yet Private insurers are vilified because they make money? Have you ever thought that everyone who pays into a certain Health plan doesn't have a catastrophic injury/illness that requires big $$$$ to fix and that those "pools" aren't drained?
That same argument goes for car insurance, which is why a 20yo kid would have to pay big $$$$ to drive around in a "Sports car" because the likelihood of him/her having an accident and injuring himself and/or others is high (We'll call it "preexisting condition", since its based on averages/history) versus a 50yo female w/a clean driving record driving around in a Honda Civic. Its all based on averages on what could happen, which is why most car insurance providers, much like health care insurers, make a profit.
Where is the outrage?
*- and the State too, depending on where you live.