Today my email inbox has several pitches about evil conservatives and their support of the rural Fire Department that let the Cranicks house burn down. In case you were living on Mars this week, the Cranicks live in a rural area where fire coverage is provided by a nearby city to homeowners who have paid a $75 fee. The Cranicks didn't pay the fee and the fire department didn't try to save their house.
The NY Times today said the fire fighters should examine their consciences. Think Progress is asking me for money, as usual, to fight conservatives who support the Fire Department.
I realize that if I am on the same side as Glenn Beck I am probably wrong, but I don't get it. If the Fire Department will put out the fire whether you pay the fee or not, what sort of idiot will pay the fee? (Not to mention liability issues if the fire fighters are injured on such a volunteer assignment.)
I'm sure it's best to organize a fire district and make everybody pay via taxes (and probably less than $75, too). Given the circumstances as they existed on the ground, though, why is there such an outpouring of sympathy for a fool who didn't pay $75? Given that he owned the house—probably free and clear since a mortgage would typically require fire coverage—it's not that he was too poor. As far as I can tell, there isn't a market failure here that requires government intervention, and there isn't any reason to condemn the mayor and fire department for doing exactly what they said they would.