Jarred J. said:
I think what he is trying to say is that lights (wind solar), water( wells), sewer,(sump holes) trash, (burn it compost, etc.) etc... can be taken care of individually now adays due to technology, but that most people should have fire service provided cause not everyone wants to buy a $500,000 truck plus equipment etc to fight their own fires.
Perzaktly: The .gov does for the community what the individuals can't do for themselves: maintain a military, negotiate treaties, install aids to navigation, maintain an air traffic control system, and do the fire/police/
ems stuff. I may have to pay a fee to a ramp operator if I want to land and park at his airport, but i don't have to pay the FAA for the navigation assistance to get there or the CAP, military rescue coordination center or Coast Guard if I don't make it there.
I'm hoping that this is an odd situation; it's the first time I've heard of a county or township not providing an essential service to unincorporated areas, or contracting, as a county or township, for those services from someone else. There are a handful of designated fire districts in this area, but they get some tax support from the area they serve. I know of one community that contracts with a private, sort of for profit fire company, but they are also supported by taxes, and residents really can't opt out.
"We" all have a vested interested in fire/
ems/le protection, because in the bigger picture it effects the quality of life in the community, and bottom line, the value of living there. It effects insurance rates, real estate values, the ability to attract businesses or tourists, school quality, environmental quality, and down the line, our jobs.
And I do believe in self reliance. Along with insurance, smoke detectors and strategically located and regularly checked fire extinguishers, I keep wildland fire handtools at the place along with a blade for the tractor, so that if it comes to it and I'm sufficiently adrenalized, I should have a handline started around the homestead should it be needed. It doesn't push nearly enough GPH and needs electricty, but if worst comes to worst, I can pitch a submersible pump into the spa and tap 500 gallons of already hot water. But I'm under no illusion that any of this will be all I need to stop a house- or wild-fire. And I live just down the road from the VFD.
Sure, I'd love to retire and live way out in the mountains where there aren't any pesky humans and if there is a fire they'll will probably smash my hermit shack with a slurry drop, but can you imagine being a real-estate agent in a place without any police or fire protection? "Oh, by the way, if you ever want to see a fireman, get out your checkbook." It sounds remarkably like paying protection to the Mafia.