Monday, December 10, 2007

Privatization Run Amok

Did you know that there are at least 200 private companies that offer firefighting services? AIG has "Wildfire Protection Units" in 150 zip codes. The fire department of Rancho Bernardo, where 365 homes burned in October, does not meet minimum accreditation standards, yet a private firefighting company saved 200 homes there - homes that rich people were willing to pay for the services of this private company.

More and more cities and towns are outsourcing their firefighting obligations. Isn't firefighting a role for the government, you know that group of people who band together so that a group (government) can do things that can't be done by individuals but they are things that must be done (like fighting fires)?

When are we going to smarten up?

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