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Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

foxbusiness.com

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Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#11

Post by [deleted] »

kortilla wrote: post #5
supercanuck wrote: post #2

Where are they getting the water and what roads do they use to service these people? Seems unfortunate in times of lack of supply of fireman that this is tolerated. I’m fairly certain that fire retarding private lawns is not the most efficient use of resources considering the circumstances at the moment.

These are private firemen. If they weren’t hired they would be off doing something else for money. It’s like complaining about people hiring private security guards when there is a police shortage. Read the article, they aren’t fire retarding private lawns. They are doing preventative work that keeps the fire far away. If it hits the lawn, it’s too late. More firefighters are better, regardless of which areas are bei…

[deleted]

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#12

Post by blueblisters »

ossworkerrights wrote: post #6

Amusing how anyone suggesting burying powerlines underground is immediately pushed back by "it's expensive" know it alls. Wondering if power-cuts like 3rd world countries enjoy are preferable over a slight increase in power supply costs, and wether impotence is more desirable over action bEcAuSe iT's eXpEnSivE.

Is there literally no solution that exists between burying power lines and keeping the lines completely exposed that would be cost effective and improve fire safety by some factor? I imagine insulators in high risk areas might do the trick but I am no high voltage expert.

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#13

Post by Traster »

slashdev wrote: post #7
supercanuck wrote: post #2

Where are they getting the water and what roads do they use to service these people? Seems unfortunate in times of lack of supply of fireman that this is tolerated. I’m fairly certain that fire retarding private lawns is not the most efficient use of resources considering the circumstances at the moment.

You've got the wrong way of looking at this. The government is unwilling to hire these people, so they're available to private individuals. If the government were winning to fork out tax dollars for private firefighters, there's nothing stopping them from doing so. The great thing about capitalism, for better or worse, but mostly better is that you or any one other person does not get to decide what constitutes effic…

Step 1: Rich people lobby to lower taxes

Step 2: The government can't afford firefighters.

Step 3: Rich people use the tax money they've saved to employ private firefighters to only protect their property.

Step 4: Poor people are left to die in otherwise controllable fires.

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#15

Post by [deleted] »

supercanuck wrote: post #9
slashdev wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've got the wrong way of looking at this. The government is unwilling to hire these people, so they're available to private individuals. If the government were winning to fork out tax dollars for private firefighters, there's nothing stopping them from doing so. The great thing about capitalism, for better or worse, but mostly better is that you or any one other person does not get to decide what constitutes effic…

> The government is unwilling to hire these people, so they're available to private individuals. Show me the evidence this is happening.

[deleted]

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#16

Post by rndgermandude »

blueblisters wrote: post #12
ossworkerrights wrote: post #6

Amusing how anyone suggesting burying powerlines underground is immediately pushed back by "it's expensive" know it alls. Wondering if power-cuts like 3rd world countries enjoy are preferable over a slight increase in power supply costs, and wether impotence is more desirable over action bEcAuSe iT's eXpEnSivE.

Is there literally no solution that exists between burying power lines and keeping the lines completely exposed that would be cost effective and improve fire safety by some factor? I imagine insulators in high risk areas might do the trick but I am no high voltage expert.

Yes, these kind of insulators are called "the ground" ;)

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#18

Post by Merrill »

ossworkerrights wrote: post #6

Amusing how anyone suggesting burying powerlines underground is immediately pushed back by "it's expensive" know it alls. Wondering if power-cuts like 3rd world countries enjoy are preferable over a slight increase in power supply costs, and wether impotence is more desirable over action bEcAuSe iT's eXpEnSivE.

CA appears to require lots of power lines because of sprawling development patterns, electricity generation located away from population centers, and a significant proportion of electricity imported from other states which must then be distributed intrastate.

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#19

Post by glogla »

Traster wrote: post #13
slashdev wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've got the wrong way of looking at this. The government is unwilling to hire these people, so they're available to private individuals. If the government were winning to fork out tax dollars for private firefighters, there's nothing stopping them from doing so. The great thing about capitalism, for better or worse, but mostly better is that you or any one other person does not get to decide what constitutes effic…

Step 1: Rich people lobby to lower taxes Step 2: The government can't afford firefighters. Step 3: Rich people use the tax money they've saved to employ private firefighters to only protect their property. Step 4: Poor people are left to die in otherwise controllable fires.

Step 5: the land is then used to build luxury housing. (See that England tower fire)

Re: Private firefighters go to work for California's wealthy

#20

Post by rvense »

slashdev wrote: post #7
supercanuck wrote: post #2

Where are they getting the water and what roads do they use to service these people? Seems unfortunate in times of lack of supply of fireman that this is tolerated. I’m fairly certain that fire retarding private lawns is not the most efficient use of resources considering the circumstances at the moment.

You've got the wrong way of looking at this. The government is unwilling to hire these people, so they're available to private individuals. If the government were winning to fork out tax dollars for private firefighters, there's nothing stopping them from doing so. The great thing about capitalism, for better or worse, but mostly better is that you or any one other person does not get to decide what constitutes effic…

> the market ends up magically having this sort of collective intelligence

What if one person had enough resources to pay all firemen to not fight fires at all? The "collective intelligence" of the market has obvious blind spots.

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