you see states and cities that are throwing over the side critical programs, selling parks, selling buildings. and the question is, when does government itself become discretionary? and i think that we are in a dangerous place right now where you can believe in less government but no advocate that i know of believes that police and fire support are part of that bargain. that is, there s the assumption is that when you form a civilized nation, particularly in an advanced nation like our own, that there s certain things that you should be able to take for granted. but the thing that i find most worrisome there is the corrosive effect on the behavior of the firefighters. some following orders and very upset about this. but to turn firefighters into this type of menace, because they re there not as part of the solution but part of the problem and you re really basing a whole moral judgment on the failure to
in the last few years be returning to a state of nature. you see states and cities that are throwing over the side critical programs, selling park selling buildings. and the question is, when does government itself become discretionary? and i think that we are in a dangerous place right now where you can believe in less government but no advocate that i know of believes that police and fire support are part of that bargain. that is, there s the assumption is that when you form a civilized nation, particularly in an advanced nation like our own, that there s certain things that you should be able to take for granted. but the thing that i find most worrisome there is the corros e corrosivenecorrosive effect on the behavior of the firefighters. some following orders and very upset about this. but to turn firefighters into this type of menace, because
in the common law there s a principle called the duty of rescue. it s misnomer. it is a duty not to rescue saying that you don t have to rescue someone when f you didn t put them into peril. this is the first time i have seen a police officer or firefighter say that they can use that same principle. because if you take this to its natural conclusion, it wouldn t be just the pets that necessarily could have died. under this same logic, they could have watched people die in the house and say that s not our problem. you didn t give us $75. as we contemplate a tea party america and the idea that you could just back off what we consider the standard responsibilities of government, local or national towards its people, what can t you make optional? well, that s the real question. i mean, we seem to particularly in the last few years be returning to a state of nature. you see states and cities that are throwing over the side critical programs, selling