Here's the short version of what happened: 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.
I can't say that I feel sorry for this guy at all. He was being a cheapskate by not paying his $75, doing his best to not support the firefighters. And then when he needed them, he expected them to deliver their services. He basically refused to pay for insurance, but then wanted coverage once something happened. That's not how things work. He's part of a community, and therefore should do his part at all times not just when he needs them. He knew the risk, but he reallyyyy wanted to keep that $75, so he rolled the dice and lost.
ReplyDeleteThree dogs and a cat were killed in the fire. Would it have mattered if children or elderly people had been trapped inside at the time? Would the firemen just have let them burn to death too?
ReplyDeleteOur society is totally fucked-in-the-head to value $75 measly dollars over helping an elderly couple save their home, their dogs and their cat. I can't believe people would actually defend such a disgraceful display of indifference. Firefighters are supposed to be heroes - not a subscription service.
And people are supposed to do their civic duty and support those firefighters too. Yet this man choose not do to so. To him, firefighters were not important enough to give $75 a year too.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the major problems we are having in our society today. We don't get to choose when we pay for something like this. If I have a car accident and am going to get sued, I can't offer State Farm a month or a year's insurance cost if they'll come help me out. It doesn't work that way.
You make this guy seem like he is just a completely innocent and unknowing victim. You said that firefighters are supposed to be heroes, right? Well why wasn't this guy supporting those heroes? Why wasn't he paying $75 a year to help pay their salaries and buy and upkeep their equipment?? He wasn't because he didn't feel they were important enough to do so, that's why.
And they are firefighters, not mercenaries. You don't pay for them on an as needed basis. We don't pay for police only when our house gets broken into. We don't pay for teachers only when we have a child in school. Why would firefighters be any different?
And if he is able to get services without paying his $75, than why is the guy next door, whom the firefighters did help, why is he paying his $75 a year if he knows other people are getting the same services without paying for them.
It's about taking responsibility for your own actions. They put himself in this position knowingly, and now wants to look like the victim of the big bad fire department. Perhaps if he had shown some respect for them in the first place, and actually helped support the firefighters instead of acting like they were not important or worthy of his financial support, then he wouldn't be in this situation.
People in our society need to stop trying to freeload off of the hard work of others, like this guy did. He wanted others to pay the salaries and for the equipment of the firefighters, but HE wanted to be able to use them when he wanted. Thats not how life does, or should, work.
wow .. serious comments... It makes you think...
ReplyDeleteMy only comments would be why did the jurisdiction give him or anyone any option?
All homeowners pay the $75 tax... no exceptions. Just like trash pick up and roads and whatever.
Anonymous, you miss the point I was alluding to completely - what happens when subscription firefighters are joined by subscription police officers who decide whether to answer a 911 call according to whether or not they've been paid in advance already? The dismantling of government services in favor of privatizing everything for profit is at fault here and I find it completely disgusting. Every man for himself is not a motto for a functioning society. In fact, it ranks up there with "Let them eat cake."
ReplyDeleteI'm not the anonymous from above, but we have at least two massive screwups here.
ReplyDeleteThe last screwup first: the guy didn't pay for his fire service, he should have chosen to. In any circumstance, some will choose to take the risk rather than insuring against it.
Second, and by far the most important: Fire service as a subscription service? WTH?! This is one of the basic purposes for a government! To provide society with an ability to undertake collective action to deal with threat to the society.
There is a third screwup, and it reinforces all the others: That county has debated making fire service out of general funds, but...that would have required tax increases.
Full Disclosure: My grandparents are from that miserable turd of a county...somehow, I'm not surprised that they'd make the national news that way...
Should Nikkij find some boxing gloves?
ReplyDeletePerhaps two condoms each?