This is a quick posting about the latest signs of insanity in America today. The anti-government hysteria fueled by the right is reaching new heights of crazy. All government is bad, and taxing to pay for government services is a crime against humanity, right? It's no longer about government waste, it's about any kind of government whatsoever.
So what are police and firefighters supposed to do when they have no budget for basic services any more? Here's the wonderful free-market solution: bill the people who use your services. Details here in the NY Times from Christopher Jensen. (hat tip to Steve Benen at Washington Monthly)
ABOUT a year ago Cary Feldman was surprised to find himself sprawled on the pavement in an intersection in Chicago Heights, Ill., having been knocked off his motor scooter by the car behind him. Five months later he got another surprise: a bill from the fire department for responding to the scene of the accident.
more after the jump
Here we go, people - the ultimate endgame of the "Why should I pay for government services I don't use?" rant coming from conservatives: the Pay As You Go model. To quote from the Times again:
Mr. Feldman had become enmeshed in what appears to be a nascent budget-balancing trend in municipal government: police and fire departments have begun to charge accident victims as a way to offset budget cuts.
Ambulance charges have long been common and are usually paid by health insurance, but fees for other responders are relatively new. The charge is variously called a “crash tax” or “resource recovery,” depending on one’s point of view. In either case, motorists are billed for services they may have thought were covered by taxpayers.
Short version? Can't afford to pay for Fire Department response to an accident or get police help for a crime? Hey, if you can't afford it, just don't be a victim in the first place. It's another version of the GOP strategy for health care: 1) Don't get sick. 2) If you do get sick, die quickly. Or like conservative reforms to Social Security: cut benefits AND raise the retirement age so no one lives long enough to collect them.
Fortunately, the conservatives have a fall back position for people who can't afford to pay for government services. Shut it down completely - coming this fall after the elections. Talking Points Memo Christina Bellantoni has the skinny.
The push to shut down the government that Dick Morris floated to conservatives last week is picking up some steam. Democrats who experienced the shutdown in 1995 and 1996 told TPM it was disastrous and it would be "un-American" to force people to endure another one.
Is that where the Republican pledges are headed? Could be. GOP leadership is on board with defunding health care and it's the most popular idea on the America Speaking Out voter forum run by the House Republicans and is included on the tea party's version of a Contract with America.
Democrats are worried about losing to these people? Really? Grow some backbone, dammit and call them out on their madness. Markos Moulitsas is the one who should worry - he had better be prepared for a defamation lawsuit overAmerican Taliban - the Afghan version is going to sue to protect their brand from being dragged down by our version.