How much fire protection does a person need? At what cost? What are the best fire protection procedures? What are the best combinations of fire protection devices? Does every block, home, town need water supplied for fire protection? Etc.
The free market is the best and most effective mechanism to sort out these questions. There is no need for the mighty hand of government here when people should be able to sort these things out themselves.
Um, these guys do a pretty awful job. Just because the state does not provide a fire department does not mean the private sector would not.
Because the government does a great job at putting out fires: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire2-2009sep02,0,2348792.story
Btw, why is always the government owned parks that catch on fire?
Didn’t read the referenced article, but yes the gov’t can do a great job – given enough money. But out small city is way over fire-protected. We have more than twice the fire protection per household than all surrounding cities in a 300 mile diameter.
Our problem has been the Fire Union. The firemen have for many years engaged in politics. Before elections they send questionaires to the candidate for City Council and then back those who will support their union. Next they campaign heavily, including door-to-door.
This year, however, they outdid themselves. Their union argued and fought so hard for their raises and pensions, and support for their staffing rules, that they have angered most of the residents. Our city is in bad economic shape, and our state is taking a good chunk of our money because they’re also in bad shape. So the firemen loose this year.
I can only hope the councilmen will remember this and not renew their contract. Then we can privatize the fire department, or contract it out.