Libertarian quick to call fire department

The doc was cooking chicken tikka masala tonight when the unthinkable happened. With several loud pops and a fire red light, my recently purchased magnetic induction cooktop shorted out and the island in my kitchen was billowing smoke. I ran into the kitchen and while everyone was freaking, suggested that we call the fire department.

In the (what seemed like forever) moments waiting for Richardson Fire Department (Station 6, I believe), the doc and I had to laugh about me, a hardcore libertarian, making the suggestion to call. I explained that we pay ~ $8000 yearly in property taxes and that there isn’t exactly a private competing service- at least not in our area of the world. I then conceded that my explanation sounded like a satire piece from The Onion. Go figure, it was.

CHEYENNE, WY—After attempting to contain a living-room blaze started by a cigarette, card-carrying Libertarian Trent Jacobs reluctantly called the Cheyenne Fire Department Monday. “Although the community would do better to rely on an efficient, free-market fire-fighting service, the fact is that expensive, unnecessary public fire departments do exist,” Jacobs said. “Also, my house was burning down.” Jacobs did not offer to pay firefighters for their service.

I must take a second to give Richardson FD their due. They were efficient, professional and pleasant to deal with. There were more than a couple of jokes about taking the opportunity to eat out, not letting the doc cook anymore and when one fireman kneeled on the floor to get the serial number from the cooktop, his partners ribbed him about needing reading glasses. Little Bit and her friend teased about how quickly they arrived dressed in all their gear. I think the girls thought that firemen sat around dressed and ready.

Everybody in the house is safe and we’re thankful there was no actual fire but the house reeks of smoke. We’re also thankful that Richardson FD was on the ball but I do wonder how the situation would have played out in a libertarian, free-market environment. However, unlike the libertarian in the satire piece, I care about calling the department funded by my tax dollar. I’m calling the manufacturer of the cooktop tomorrow and you can bet that I’ll demand they make my kitchen, as well as my local fire department, whole.

If the manufacturer provides an unacceptable resolution, I’ll pull a Sue Doe-Nim, post pictures of the brand name, and show the world my soot covered granite countertops and cabinets.

~ by Miche on January 29, 2008.