Police and firemen in Alameda, California watched a man drown on Monday after realizing they did not have proper certifications for water rescue, leaving them open to possible lawsuits if they attempted to save him.
The drowning victim, 53-year-old Raymond Zack, was apparently suicidal, according to a report from the scene. He waded out about 150 yards into cold waters off Crown Beach in Alameda and took about an hour to drown himself.
A crowd of about 75 gathered to watch the bizarre scene, which saw police and firemen just standing at shoreline watching helplessly. After the man had drowned, authorities couldnt even go into the surf to retrieve the body. They instead recruited a passer-by for the job.
City officials reportedly blamed the incident on budget cuts and said they would have a discussion about why Alameda, an island city, does not have proper authorization to rescue people from the waters surrounding it.
This video is from ABC 7 in San Francisco, Calif., broadcast May 30, 2011.
I love how Rudgear got upset when I said small govt ideology means the govt does not rescue people then on his next post said its not the govt's job to rescue people.
I mean you can't nail a fool better than with his own words. Thanks, stupid rud.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Stop arguing both sides of the street, puke. You are a sickening excuse for a human being, Destro. Why don't you disappear along with your friends you have to call in to help you not lose so huge.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
Playing the race card doesn't work with me, commie. It's the last resort for losers like you. Fuck off, Destro.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
You are such a liar, Destro. You are for complete government control.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
You have nothing left but the ultimate fall back position of a losing commie: accuse others of doing what you do. Destro, you are such a pathetic loser.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
Still assuming, dummy? I'm not surprised you follow Destro, no questions asked. Good little 'Independent' dummy, aren't you?
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
My area has both private ambulance services and private trash collection.
Other areas have private fire departments.
The vast majority provide better services at lower costs than government monopolies.
Sure, you can find an exception, but I can sit here and post horror stories all day long about how the government monopoly schools are destroying our kid's future. These are not exceptions. This is the norm. Which is the problem.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
Ok, 'Independent'. Whatever you say, free thinker who pukes the DNC line, post after post.
war has to do something for entertainment. The voices in his head aren't speaking to him and his imaginary friends have found reasons not to come over anymore.
Government bureacrats get to keep lifelong jobs even though they are destroying our kid's futures in the government monopoly schools.
Are there no private schools where you live?
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that childs born too. When we start debating a budget, lets make sure we dont cut 100,000 vaccines. Lets make sure weve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that babys born, oh no, we dont want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a womens uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that childs born too. When we start debating a budget, lets make sure we dont cut 100,000 vaccines. Lets make sure weve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that babys born, oh no, we dont want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a womens uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
As a general rule, they do twice as good a job (using very measurable statistics) at half the cost of government services. In other words, they are 4 times better. Same with trash collection.
Here's what privatized firefighting looked like:
In 1736 young Benjamin Franklin, already one of the most influential men in Pennsylvania, began urging readers of his "Pennsylvanian Gazette" to establish fire-fighting companies. Soon, six volunteer corps were established in Philadelphia. In 1752, insurance companies in the colonies began issuing plaques, or "fire marks," to be prominently displayed on building fronts as an incentive for volunteer fire fighters to save their insured buildings. These fire marks are extremely rare these days as most of them were made of lead and were melted to make ammunition for the Revolutionary War. With bonuses offered as incentives, rivalries ensued between groups. Marked homes and businesses were brawled over, while residences on the same street, with no fire mark, often burned to the ground.
http://www.afirepro.com/history.html
It is our responsibility to protect that child once that childs born too. When we start debating a budget, lets make sure we dont cut 100,000 vaccines. Lets make sure weve got health insurance. We seem to worship what we cannot see, but as soon as that babys born, oh no, we dont want to be intrusive. Texas is going to shrink government until it fits inside a womens uterus. Senator Leticia Van de Putte
15 government bureacrats get to make life and death decisions for all 310 million of us.
right, we're all much better off when private companies make life and death decisions. We're all better off say when insurance companies get to rescind policies or deny coverage for those who become unprofitable.
"Thats because your basically and idiot." Badeye posted on 2011-04-29 10:30:22 ET
I guess your ideal version of the USA is Somalia - no govt and no gun control.
Jwpegler seems to get confused a lot, a few weeks ago he touted the superiority of Germany's approach to dealing with the economy and he's often touted Singapore's universal healthcare program as one the U.S. should emulate. He also praises countries who spend lots of government money on mass transit.
"Thats because your basically and idiot." Badeye posted on 2011-04-29 10:30:22 ET
Jwpegler seems to get confused a lot, a few weeks ago he touted the superiority of Germany's approach to dealing with the economy and he's often touted Singapore's universal healthcare program as one the U.S. should emulate. He also praises countries who spend lots of government money on mass transit.
Sounds like his account has been hacked just like yukons.
City officials reportedly blamed the incident on budget cuts and said they would have a discussion about why Alameda, an island city, does not have proper authorization to rescue people from the waters surrounding it.
Yea right.... Come on guys tell the truth, the Union rescue swimmer was on a "Coffee Break" and couldn't be bothered....
"I love the 45 caliber M1911, I respect the 9MM M9 Beretta but I only carry a CZ for my own personal protection". Quote courtesy of Lt Col John Dean Cooper, recognized as the Father of Modern Handgunning
The Goldi School of Debate..."I heard me say it...it must be correct!!!"
You and Goldi seem to have a lot in common.
Now, I know I’m not going to change the minds of any of the True Believers…those who read all of Reverend Al’s sermons, and say things like, “You know, global warming can mean warmer OR colder, wetter OR drier, cloudier OR sunnier, windier OR calmer, …”. Can I get an ‘amen’??
You seem to be completely oblivious to the 'reason' why Medicare was created.
I know exactly why Medicare was created. Unscrupulous politicians (led by the most unscrupulous politician in American history - LBJ) were looking to hand out more goodies to old people so that they would keep voting them into power. It worked, to the nation's detriment.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
No. As a free person in a free market, you have a choice on which companies to deal with and what type of service you are willing to pay for. Companies will compete on cost, service, or both.
Government has ruined this truism in healthcare and education. The result? Escalating costs and plummeting services.
What gets blamed for government's disastrous policies? The "free market".
It's sick and wrong. Someone has to stand up for the truth.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
Yep, but I still have to pay for the government monopoly schools even when I choose a different alternative. That's wrong, immoral, and counter productive for everyone -- especially the kids in the government monopoly schools who don't benefit from the improvements that competition would bring to their lives.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
a few weeks ago he touted the superiority of Germany's approach to dealing with the economy
I said no such thing. Gooberson has been doing this, not me.
In fact, I've correctly argued that Germany has: a lower corporate income rate than the U.S. (+), but a hidebound labor market that Adolph Hitler created (--- ).
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
he's often touted Singapore's universal healthcare program as one the U.S. should emulate
I stand by that assertion today. 100%
Singapore's health care system promotes individual choice and responsibility. The U.S. system promotes dependency on one's employer and/or the government. This is the problem.
I am not the one who is confused here.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
Nope. My views have been crafted based on: A.) years of personal experience working across 41 states and 26 countries, B.) a voracious amount of reading across numerous disciplines, and C.) debating people like you.
I've done my research. It's time that you do yours.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899