Firefighters let man’s house burn over unpaid fee

[CHIMO]

Marcus Licinius Crassus was once the richest man in ancient Rome. A lot of his money came from real estate, which Crassus amassed in an ingenious way.

If a house in Rome caught fire (and they often did), Crassus would rush to the scene with his personal firefighting service in tow. Once there, Crassus began bargaining with the owner and the owners of nearby homes threatened by the flames.

If the owner(s) agreed to sell his burning home at a ridiculous discount, the firefighters swung into action to save what was now Crassus’s house. If they balked, the buildings burned to the ground while the firefighters watched.

If they still operated this sort of system in present-day Tennessee, Gene Cranick’s house would still be standing.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/870850--firefighters-let-man-s-house-burn-over-unpaid-fee?bn=1

[liberalmuse]

1. I could be wrong, but I call 'bullshit'.

Something about this story just doesn't smell right...

[CHIMO]

2. You Are Wrong

(YBH) – Keith Olbermann, the angriest man on TV this side of Sean Hannity, blames a house fire in Tennessee on the Tea Party.

The story is a tragic one, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the Tea Party movement. See, the owner of the house that burned down lived outside of the city limits. Folks that live outside the city limits of South Fulton, TN are required to pay a yearly $75 fee in order to procure the protective services of the South Fulton Fire Department. Gene Cranick didn’t pay that fee. When his house caught fire, the South Fulton Fire Department stood down as Mr. Cranick’s house burned to the ground.

We could debate whether the fire protection policies of small towns in Obion County, Tennessee are fair, unfair, or downright cruel.

Keith Olbermann, however, takes it a step further. He immediately equated the incident to what life will look like in America if the GOP/Tea Party returns to power in November.
http://yesbuthowever.com/house-burns-tennessee-5000034/