Posted 10/06/2010 05:25:00 PM by Douglas

The classic example of how absurd Libertarian "pay as you go" government services was the lighthouse that charged a toll after it protected the ship from the rocks below. But this real-life example from Tennessee may become the next textbook example of what services people "deserve" and what you "pay for."

Here's the short version of what happened: In rural Obion County, homeowners must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton. If they don't pay the fee and their home catches fire, tough luck -- even if firefighters are positioned just outside the home with hoses at the ready.

When Cranick's house caught fire last week, and he couldn't contain the blaze with garden hoses, he called 911. During the emergency call, he offered to pay all expenses related to the Fire Department's defense of his home, but the South Fulton firefighters refused to do anything.

They did, however, come out when Cranick's neighbor -- who'd already paid the fee -- called 911 because he worried that the fire might spread to his property. Once they arrived, members of the South Fulton department stood by and watched Cranick's home burn; they sprang into action only when the fire reached the neighbor's property.

We'll there's some commitment from the firefighters. Would it be fair to everyone that did pay their fire protection bill to put out this fire? Probably not, just like it's not fair to insure houses in the path of a hurricane only when it turns cloudy.