This kind of thing is exactly why California isn't on my list of areas I'm willing to relocate to in my job search. The disastrous political system there has put them in the situation where their basic infrastructure is collapsing, and having a job isn't going to do much good if you can't get the necessities to stay alive.

That's Messed up!
I guess there is a price on a person's life!
That is absolutely Criminal!

I see a golden opportunity in establishing a new 911 insurance business! I'll charge $38 a year and if they need a 911 call i'll pay the $300!

Although, odds are I'll find some way to get out of paying it. Huge legal contracts ftw!

A perfect example of why a republic is preferable to the kind of direct democracy that California has. Citizens are always in favor of more government programs but never in favor of paying for them. They have neither the required information or foresight to make the correct decision and end up paying for them like this eventually.

EDIT - Goddamnit, I need to proof read my posts

"we feel like our taxes should take care of this"

oh really comrade? goddam socialists make me sick!

>> ^demon_ix:
I see a golden opportunity in establishing a new 911 insurance business! I'll charge $38 a year and if they need a 911 call i'll pay the $300!
Although, odds are I'll find some way to get out of paying it. Huge legal contracts ftw!


i think what you're describing is called a protection racket.

"gee, nice house you got here. it would be a real shame if it were to just catch fire all of a sudden"

The fact of the matter is that Tracy has grown rapidly in the last few years. Even now, there are still developments going up. I don't think the city had given thought to what it would take to support such growth, especially in light of the property tax laws.

This is what small government, and low taxes get you.

I think the fee is a good alternative to limiting or stopping 911 service altogether.

Just for some perspective...I've lived in California all my life, and I've never heard of Tracy, California. The good spots still have the free emergency services (but the trade-off is a semi-rigid police state)>> ^Stormsinger:
This kind of thing is exactly why California isn't on my list of areas I'm willing to relocate to in my job search. The disastrous political system there has put them in the situation where their basic infrastructure is collapsing, and having a job isn't going to do much good if you can't get the necessities to stay alive.

Not to say that Tracy is or is not a 'good spot'; but you never hearing of a place is irrelevant.

I have only lived in California a short while, but I have known people who live in Tracy before I even moved to California.

That said, I think this is a harbinger of what is to come for other places in California.

What Longde said...it's not about Tracy being a "good" or "bad" spot. It's not -this- particular place and activity that's the reason I'm not willing to move to California. This is just a hint of where things are headed. As long as taxes can't be raised, and nobody in charge is willing to intentionally and rationally reduce the services, you're going to end up with -necessary- services collapsing.

The funny thing is, this particular result and place is also a fine example of the end result of libertarian goals...privatize everything. Have an emergency? You better hope you're paid up, cause it's going to cost even more to pay at the door.

I appreciate the optimism of the gentleman being interviewed, where he says "I hope it's a short term situation", but when does a municipality, business or insert-entity-here ever voluntarily decide to reduce rates once they're accustomed to a certain revenue? More bluntly, when does any entity or corporation decide to back off once they know they can get away with certain fees and charges?

I fear that the only way this will be a short term situation for anyone there is if they die on account of choosing not to call 911.

Also, what happens if, say, you're driving through that town at night and you see a car upside-down off the side of the road? Do you call 911 in the hopes that they charge the driver of the car the fee once they sew his goddamn head back on? Or are you just a bit more compelled to drive by and pretend you didn't see anything? Even the hesitation inherent in having to consider something like that is (in my view) heinous, and could mean the difference between life and death.

I'm not sure whether I would support this move or not, but I can see another side of the argument: How many times do we hear people calling 911 for dumb-ass shit, like a fast food restaurant giving them the wrong order? Maybe if we think of 911 as expensive rather than free, it would stay open for the real emergencies and people wouldn't get put on hold while they die.

Just a thought.

another symptom of your *terrible *healthcare system

Adding video to channels (Health, Terrible) - requested by SlipperyPete.

The thumbnail image for this video has been updated - findthumb requested by lucky760.