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.
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
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.
None of which provides anything but anecdotal "evidence", which is why you can't provide any real data to back up your assertions.
You should just stop now. You're embarrassing yourself and making me feel sorry for you.
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.
I guess what you want is for government to pay for your private school. How do you see that working; California spends $7,500 annually per student, a good private school in this area charges in the neighborhood of $33,000 tuition per student per year.
For the 2009-2010 school year there were 512,826 students in private schools, k-12, in California. Would you give every student a voucher in the amount of $7,500 to spend at the school of their choice? If so, adding more than half a million students into the system would increase state costs (raise taxes) considerably, while still leaving the good schools out of reach for most students.
The other possibility would be to divide the same amount of money among a larger pool of students further stressing the public school system.
Of course we could commit as a nation to making public schools excellent.
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
For the 2009-2010 school year there were 512,826 students in private schools, k-12, in California. Would you give every student a voucher in the amount of $7,500 to spend at the school of their choice?
I think he's saying that if he doesn't use the public schools he shouldn't be taxed for them, but I could be wrong.
which is why you can't provide any real data to back up your assertions.
This has nothing do to with you, but I have bent over backwards numerous times on this site gluing together evidence for my assertions so that I could try to show the opposition the facts.
Every single time, the opposition just dismissed the evidence and went back to their partisan talking points.
So, I'm not going to bend over backwards any more because there isn't any point in doing so.
I'm on this site because I learn things from certain people and I hope that they learn things from me. If the brain dead politicos like Lusysmom and Maddog don't learn squat, I really don't care.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
Nope, I just don't want to have to pay for a service (government monopoly schools) that don't work and have failed the country and our children.
Okay, now we know what you don't want, how about telling us what you do want.
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
This has nothing do to with you, but I have bent over backwards numerous times on this site gluing together evidence for my assertions so that I could try to show the opposition the facts.
Every single time, the opposition just dismissed the evidence and went back to their partisan talking points.
That's the way it is for everybody. No one here will ever be convinced of anything they don't already believe. That's why this is just a chat site for entertainment purposes only, and nothing more.
That's the way it is for everybody. No one here will ever be convinced of anything they don't already believe. That's why this is just a chat site for entertainment purposes only, and nothing more.
Yes, but I've also learned a few things from some people.
Why? Because I was open to learn. Most people are closed and won't learn anything.
It's tragic.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
There is choice now, it's just not acceptable to you.
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
Government has ruined this truism in healthcare and education. The result?
So like with all "services" provided by the private economy those with more money should get better and more health care and education. And if you can't afford it you are sh** out of luck. Is that what you are sayin?
Only for the very wealthy who can afford to pay the bills of two schools at once.
Again, how would choice look to you?
I'm beginning to think you're avoiding answering the question.
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