Quote:
Originally Posted by Sieg
Please don't play the fire hero card.
Fire and EMT equipment and compensation are one of the better examples of excesses government spending. Yet they are portrayed to be movie stars and hero's by the media. Why isn't their equipment similar to military? The buy and equip their vehicles like the 1 percenter's buying recreational vehicles............why?
The number in our area that have second jobs as contractors and work for cash under the table makes me sick.
Two years ago Eugene had 203 fire department employees, the average wage was $96,000. Police had 193 and averaged $92,000.
Then they respond in these vehicles to attended to longtime drunk who's passed out again.........on a regular basis.
Cost effective?
IMO occupants will most likely die of smoke inhalation before the responders arrive if they can't clear themselves from the structure. In many cases provided you have decent insurance you're better off having your house burn to the ground vs. dealing with smoke and fire damage and having your house filled with the fire departments water. You'll be back under your own roof in less time with a total rebuild vs. repair.
Have you paid for an ambulance ride lately? You can go to a nice driving school for a similar price............unless you're homeless then it's free.
From a motorcyclist's perspective the condition of roads in the Pacific NW are dangerous.
End of rant.............. |
Agreed. The firefighters in my township have gotten a 5% across the board raise 2 times in the last 4 years. They are responsible for 40% of our townships $5 million annual budget. They have a hook and ladder truck when there is not a structure in the township over 3 stories tall that gets driven to every call! This isn't a bash on the firefighters. I wouldn't do the job, my point is this is going on in a township that has 42 miles of roads and is 23 square miles. Imagine this on the state level and then on the federal level. Just spend and spend and spend.
Darren