Comments on: Free-For-All Friday 10/8/10

By: The Walrus

The Walrus — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:48:14 +0000

The fire dept. wasn’t privately run in this case so I’m not sure I see the relevance of your point. Furthermore, the trend towards privatizing these services that these “academics” reference were ones that were constrained by heavy regulation. Also, if the citizens are not happy with the private service, the company doesn’t get the contract again and it goes to a company who does it better; competition is good. What can you do if you are unhappy with your govt. service? Finally, if you look at the current trend toward privatizing city services, you will see that they are working very well. For example, Chicago turned over all city maintenance services to a private company and it has been very successful at providing great service at WELL BELOW the cost the city spent to do the same service.

By: The Walrus

The Walrus — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:37:27 +0000

As I stated earlier, I wouldn’t have let the house burn. My point was that if we are going to have a discussion on “libertarianism”, we should also have one on personal responsibility.

By: "Naaman" Gibbets

"Naaman" Gibbets — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:47:53 +0000

As usual, there is an avoidance of something very important in this discussion: yes, being away from the urban area he should have paid the $70 fee, and this is the important part, but his house burned down–his house, where he lived. Why is the timing of his payment so important here? Hell, bill him an extra $30 after the fact.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:05:22 +0000

I wouldn’t put Token in the same category as certain people on that thread.

By: nelliebelle1197

nelliebelle1197 — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:03:42 +0000

It’s a ridiculous system. Apparently, for a a property tax increase of less than $1per lot, the entire rural area could have had county-paid fire services. Walrus, I don’t know your background, but there was a huge trend to privatize public services in the late 80s and early 90s. Public administration and urban policy academics started analyzing the trend in the last 90s and found privatization was costing more and people were less satisfied with the services. Privatized trash systems were about the only thing found to benefit the public across the board. Firefighters, like police, shouldn’t have their hands tied like this. Government services for the common good are wanted and needed by the public. There is too much room for error and too much at stake – lives, property and basic civic duty- to defend this sort of system. There is too much room for a mistake or human error.

By: The Walrus

The Walrus — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:42:06 +0000

And maybe they can make him breakfast in the morning and brush his teeth as well.

By: "Naaman" Gibbets

"Naaman" Gibbets — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:41:55 +0000

So expecting firefighters to save your house is a symptom of spoiled society?
Man, you are harsh and tough and backwards and–don’t you think they could’ve billed the guy?

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:56:00 +0000

If it’s a service dog you can.