Rich people and their own "better" firefighters? (illegal, how much, insurance)
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As multiple devastating wildfires raged across California, a private firefighting crew reportedly helped save Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s home in Calabasas. The successful defense of the $60 million mansion is the most prominent example of a trend that’s begun to receive national attention: for-hire firefighters protecting homes, usually on the payroll of an insurance company with a lot at risk.
Firefighters are consistently ranked the most beloved public servants because they treat everyone equally.
But if we allow firefighting to become a two-tiered system (with one tier for the elite and another tier for everyone else), then that threatens the democratic-republican ideal of everyone contributing their fair share for the greater needs of the commonwealth.
For some - including many firefighters from municipalities - protection from a deadly wildfire isn't something that some neighbors should be able to buy when others can’t.
Is this a story of the ramifications of economic disparity in this country?
As multiple devastating wildfires raged across California, a private firefighting crew reportedly helped save Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s home in Calabasas. The successful defense of the $60 million mansion is the most prominent example of a trend that’s begun to receive national attention: for-hire firefighters protecting homes, usually on the payroll of an insurance company with a lot at risk.
Firefighters are consistently ranked the most beloved public servants because they treat everyone equally.
But if we allow firefighting to become a two-tiered system (with one tier for the elite and another tier for everyone else), then that threatens the democratic-republican ideal of everyone contributing their fair share for the greater needs of the commonwealth.
For some - including many firefighters from municipalities - protection from a deadly wildfire isn't something that some neighbors should be able to buy when others can’t.
Is this a story of the ramifications of economic disparity in this country?
So what? We have mercenary armies and private security companies too. If someone has the money to hire a private fire fighting crew to save their house more power to them.
That’s why rich people live in 60 million dollar mansions. Because they can.
How is that any different than the rich hiring private security guards rather than relying on the local police like everyone else?
Look at it this way, the for-hire fire fighters freed up the other fire fighters to lend help elsewhere.
Just a fact, the work they did saving the Kardashian house also saved other houses.
Another thought, I wonder what is costs to insure mega-million dollar homes?
Unless this trend starts to somehow decrease the availability of public, tax supported services I don't have a problem with it.
The rich get all kinds of perks the rest of us don't, it's just a fact of life.
Understood, but I don't think that elnina was saying they shouldn't be allowed to utilize private firefighters but rather she was pointing out the growing disparity between the 'haves and the have nots'. I thought about this while looking at private schools for my grandson. Tuition for grades 1-5 at the best private elementary school in the area is $22,350 and they have more applicants than they do openings. It got me to thinking about the disparity between schools like that and public schools in the district, and it doesn't stop at schools.
The question that it raises is, should the quality of education, the excellence of police work and fire fighting all be based upon how much you can afford to pay? If so, where is the line drawn? Should the wealthy get special ambulances that can get them to the hospital quicker? Should they be treated in special hospitals where their money guarantees that they won't die waiting to be seen in the ER? Should organ transplants be doled out to the highest bidder?
I'm not claiming to have the answers to these questions but I think they merit an honest discussion and they point out a growing problem where more and more of our nation's wealth is in the hands of fewer and fewer people.
The question that it raises is, should the quality of education, the excellence of police work and fire fighting all be based upon how much you can afford to pay? .
According to conservatives, yes. They also want to eliminate public schools by slowly defunding them and giving vouchers to the wealthy for private schools.
Understood, but I don't think that elnina was saying they shouldn't be allowed to utilize private firefighters but rather she was pointing out the growing disparity between the 'haves and the have nots'. I thought about this while looking at private schools for my grandson. Tuition for grades 1-5 at the best private elementary school in the area is $22,350 and they have more applicants than they do openings. It got me to thinking about the disparity between schools like that and public schools in the district, and it doesn't stop at schools.
The question that it raises is, should the quality of education, the excellence of police work and fire fighting all be based upon how much you can afford to pay? If so, where is the line drawn? Should the wealthy get special ambulances that can get them to the hospital quicker? Should they be treated in special hospitals where their money guarantees that they won't die waiting to be seen in the ER? Should organ transplants be doled out to the highest bidder?
I'm not claiming to have the answers to these questions but I think they merit an honest discussion and they point out a growing problem where more and more of our nation's wealth is in the hands of fewer and fewer people.
How are we going to stop rich people from taking advantage of their wealth?
Make it illegal to hire their own security/fire fighters? Make it illegal for them to send their children to expensive, private schools? Make it illegal for them to fly an ill loved one half way around the world to access the best physician they can find?
Where would you draw the line on how the rich are allowed to spend their money?
I can't say I disagree, if I had a 60 million dollar home I would take steps to protect it also.
Probably with a built in fire fighting system.
A $60 million dollar home is no more important to it's owners than a $60,000 home is to it's owners.
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