Glenn Beck and co-host mock man whose house burned down in Tennessee

[Cali_Democrat]

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/glenn-beck-and-co-host-mock-man-whose-house-burned-down-tennessee

Today Glenn Beck and co-hose Pat Gray gave their own take on Gene Cranick, the Tennessee man whose house burned down while county firefighters watched. The fire department of Republican-controlled Obion County refused to help Cranick because he had not paid a $75 subscription fee. As a result, Cranick's house was destroyed and he lost his two dogs and cat.

Not suprisingly, Beck and Gray argued that the county and the fire department did the right thing by not turning their hoses on Cranick's house. Beck argues that since Cranick did not pay his $75 subscription fee he does not deserve the fire protection. Going further, Beck and his co-host actually mock Cranick and his southern accent through much of the segment (audio to the left). Both men portray Cranick as some kind of southern redneck who does not understand how the Tea Party, free market principles are suppose to work.

Lost in the narrative of Beck and Gray is the fact that Cranick believed he could pay the fire department at a later date. In an interview with Keith Olbermann, Cranick claimed that other property owners were allowed to pay after the fire department responded in the past.

However, Beck argues that if the fire department helped Cranick it would destroy the entire subscription-based service. The theory being that no one would pay their subscription fee until they actually had a fire unless the county enforced the policy. What Beck completely ignores is a number of alternative, less harsh systems that could have been implemented.

Read more at link...http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/glenn-beck-and-co-host-mock-man-whose-house-burned-down-tennessee

[Vincardog]

1. Lost in the argument is the fact that he had a fire 3 years ago and never paid for it.

If you are going to live a tax phobic world and refuse your responsibility to contribute to society you are going to get the government you deserve.

[Fumesucker]

2. OBION COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT..

So the "facts" in this piece are not actually, you know, facts..

The voters of Obion county have consistently voted against funding a fire department through taxation, 19-1 against to be precise..

[TexasObserver]

3. Recommend. When one sides with Glenn Beck, it should be a wake up call.

Should the guy have paid? Of course.

Should his failure to pay have stopped the fire department? Of course not.

These are not tough calls.

[PVnRT]

4. I think this needs to be posted at least 10 more times today

It gives the holier-than-thous more opportunity to accuse anyone they don't like of being Beck supporters.

[Fumesucker]

5. No matter how many more times it's posted Obion county does not have a fire department..

What is so difficult to grasp about that?

[Speck Tater]

6. For democracy to work people MUST get EXACTLY what they vote for.

If they vote for no public services then they MUST get no public services. It's what they voted for. And as long as we protect people from the consequences of stupid voting they will never learn to vote smarter. Giving people exactly what they ask for is the only way to help them learn to ask for something better.

[tularetom]

7. This is not an easy on to pin down

I've heard so many versions of this story I'm not sure what to believe.

This is what I know:

*The fire took place in the county.
*the county has no fire department.
*the city does have a fire department and provides fire service to county residents only upon payment of a $75 annual fee (because the city is unable to tax county residents to fund the service).
*Mr Cranick lost 3 dogs and a cat in the fire.

Here are some of the things I've heard (but don't know for sure):

*Cranicks grandson started the fire while burning some trash. The fire got away from him and spread to the house.
*The same grandson has started fires on several previous occasions.
*The city fire department put out a fire at Mr Cranick's residence 3 years ago in spite of the fact that he hadn't paid his fee.
*Cranick has no objection to paying the fee and intended to do so this year but forgot.
*Cranick and/or a nieghbor attempted to pay the fee directly to the fire chief as the fire was being fought on the neighbor's property but were denied.

Here's what I'd like to know:

*Has the county ever considered or voted on providing fire service to its residents?
*If so, did Mr Cranick vote for the service (and the tax that would support it)?
*Cranick apparently claims he forgot to pay his fire fee to the city this year. Did he pay it in previous years?

I'm really torn on this one. I feel bad for the homeowner and especially for the loss of his pets and it's hard for me (volunteer fireman for almost 20 years) to imagine any fire company refusing to put out a fire based on non payment of a fee. Nevertheless I can understand the city's position on this matter. County residents apparently do not feel the need to tax themselves for fire protection, yet they (or at least some of them) expect this city to provide this service to them in spite of the fact that they do not pay taxes to the city.

Something positive could come out of this tragedy if a few of the anti government crowd learned from it the consequences of what they are advocating. Unfortunately I'm afraid the message is going to fly right over their heads.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. That's got to take a toll on Beck's ratings,

mocking his base and all.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. I was thinking the same thing. n/t

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fumesucker]

10. That is one of the more opaque statements I've read on DU..

Congratulations, I have no idea how to take what you wrote..

:toast:

[Cali_Democrat]

13. What did he say?

[spanone]

12. it's what i would expect from that little prick