General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

16. Jesus. I know almost nothing about firefighting

Sat Mar 16, 2013, 01:10 AM

Mar 2013

but I strongly suspect it involves a lot of skills and training that non-firefighters don't get. And with all due respect to police -- and they do deserve respect -- they're police officers, not fire fighters.

What I think I know about fire fighters is that they are a very special breed. Years ago, a co-worker was eager to become a fire fighter. He was obsessed by it, and after a while passed the test or whatever it was, and left that job as happy as I have ever seen a human.

Sometimes, at a grocery store, I'll see the local firefighters buying food for their meals, and they exude an air of I just don't know what, something indefinable that is an integral part of who they are. It's almost like they are from some other planet, they are so different. I admire them enormously. I myself have never had a fire of any kind, and if I'm very lucky I'll go through life without ever needing their help. It has never occurred to me for one millisecond to question whatever part of my taxes goes to pay them and underwrite everything they need to do their jobs.

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In Benton Harbor Michigan [View all] erinlough Mar 2013 OP

Thank you for this post! Union Scribe Mar 2013 #1

This is fucking bullshit. Fuck the emergency manager, I hope he gets run out of town on a rail. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #2

I agree the targets have all been black communities erinlough Mar 2013 #4

That's how education deform started. The fascists were 'just trying to help' those 'poor black HiPointDem Mar 2013 #6

Sorry Crepuscular Mar 2013 #33

I'm not looking at it in the same terms you express. erinlough Mar 2013 #34

All of the cities? Crepuscular Mar 2013 #35

You are right, sorry. Hamtramck is 53% white. erinlough Mar 2013 #44

Here's his injuries: AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #3

An excellent summary of what has happened in Michigan by Big Ed erinlough Mar 2013 #5

thanks. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #7

Ed appears to believe the plan was actually to help the people and that it somehow went wrong. Fire Walk With Me Mar 2013 #19

Anybody who's read Naomi Klein's book.... socialist_n_TN Mar 2013 #29

True. Hopefully the Trend is now clear in Europe and even here so that people may Respond. n/t Fire Walk With Me Mar 2013 #51

"Confessions of an Economic Hitman" ReRe Mar 2013 #49

This is really bad. mountain grammy Mar 2013 #8

That's just nuts. UnrepentantLiberal Mar 2013 #9

What you get for less taxes. Ask the home owners how they feel about smaller government. Ask the ... marble falls Mar 2013 #10

Never, the local Lakeland hospital is privately owned and a money grubbing pit already erinlough Mar 2013 #12

I am really starting to hate that term "privately owned". And I'm Republican. Some .... marble falls Mar 2013 #15

Something bad is going to happen in Michigan.... ReRe Mar 2013 #11

I have written to all of my senators who are Dems. erinlough Mar 2013 #18

At least that will be able to be appealed through the court system No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #21

So Michigan has a judicial system which is not tainted by corruption? Good to know. AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #39

I'm thinking Federal courts No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #45

So the Federal courts in Michigan are not tainted by corruption and big money? AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #46

Wait and see. No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #47

Here's some relatively recent news re one of the Federal judges in Detroit: AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #48

They WANT "something" to happen SoCalDem Mar 2013 #36

my city has one too maryellen99 Mar 2013 #37

This story needs to go viral. K&R onestepforward Mar 2013 #13

The husband of one of my cousins is a retired firefighter Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2013 #14

Jesus. I know almost nothing about firefighting SheilaT Mar 2013 #16

My sentiments exactly... ReRe Mar 2013 #25

Fuck "austerity" no matter what They call it as They force it upon us all. Fire Walk With Me Mar 2013 #17

BASTARDS Skittles Mar 2013 #20

This lack of fire protection has to affect No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #22

Michigan is very misunderstood in my opinion erinlough Mar 2013 #23

I understand the city Dems vs. Rep. rurals. No Vested Interest Mar 2013 #24

I did look at the vote totals for my district erinlough Mar 2013 #27

Unfortunately, I know several very well-educated white people.... llmart Mar 2013 #31

Incredible - send in one man to stop a fire - I guess they want everything to burn down. MI seems to freshwest Mar 2013 #26

The ones who voted for Snyder.... ReRe Mar 2013 #50

What I want to know is what are the qualifications.... ReRe Mar 2013 #28

Sue the emergency manager for negligence perdita9 Mar 2013 #30

Not allowed he has total control once he takes over. Nt erinlough Mar 2013 #32

He may have the power to cut the force watoos Mar 2013 #38

Then Democracy is truly dead in Michigan perdita9 Mar 2013 #52

Among the most obvious tragedy of this stupidity and greed caseymoz Mar 2013 #40

This shit is going to happen as long as the people let it. Doremus Mar 2013 #41

government by private equity KT2000 Mar 2013 #42

Why doesn't Benton Harbor organize a volunteer fire department? FarCenter Mar 2013 #43