Quote Originally Posted by Psyberwolfe View Post
I really don't think how one views this is a good test of how Libertarian They Are.
Why not? Libertarianism is about being able to maked choices and being responsible for the consequences of your choices.

The Cranicks were given a choice by the county: Pay $75 bucks and get fire protection or save yourselves the cash and live without that protection. Cedar Park doesn't give me that choice; they just bill me. They chose to forego that protection. Until the burn barrell got ****ed up. THEN they wanted that coverage.


Khestra makes an argument on community welfare grounds; the fire department had a responsibility to put out the fire because otherwise it could have endangered the other houses. At that point, a further argument could be made that the Cranicks should have been compelled to pay the $75.00 to begin with (again, that is what Cedar Park does) for the good of the community. Because if the fire department has to respond regardless of whether the homeowner had paid the fee, then no one will pay the fee and the fire department ends out of business.

And that starts the first hesitant step on the long but slippery slope towards socialism....