[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Choro&Swing

I have an ex-brother-in-law who is a Libertarian. He believes that the fire departments should be privatized. People could decide whether or not they want to pay for fire protection. If they want it, they would pay a yearly fee, rather like insurance, say $350 a year. This would pay the costs of running the fire department, including salaries, supplies, and equipment. If there was a fire in the homes of those people, the fire department would come put it out. No further charge. Essentially, all the subscribers chip in to cover the costs.

However, those who didn’t want to pay the $350 a year could opt out and pay nothing. But if there was a fire, the fire department would show up and keep the homes of the neighbors safe. If the homeowner without coverage refused to sign the paperwork, the burning house would burn to the ground. If the homeowner did sign, the home would be saved if possible, but the homeowner would receive a fair bill from the fire department that includes all costs for putting out the fire, for training, for insurance, for hospital costs, etc. Say a minimum of $10,000, and easily ten times that amount.

He also believes that police protection should be for those who pay for it. There’s a burglary at your house? If you haven’t paid for police insurance and want help, you get billed for, say, the detectives, the court case, etc. I don’t agree with him.

St Louis County in Missouri relied upon private fire companies through most of the 1950s. Then there were a few instances of fire companies letting houses burn down. So, elections were held and lots of little public fire protection districts were set up, and everyone was happy for about forty years. Then the firefighters unions began to get their people elected to the fire protection district boards, and suddenly salaries went way up. The union kept management on board by keeping white shirt salaries higher than union rate. Taxes went up too, much hand wringing and crying foul, but not much done because the firefighters' unions were well organized. Count your blessings, and stay registered to vote, and keep your eyes and ears open.