Remember when a fire department watched a house burn down?

[BlueCheese]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39516346/ns/us_news-life/t/no-pay-no-spray-firefighters-let-home-burn/

The story took over DU for a number of days. There were a lot of people on both sides of that debate, I remember.

How big is the step from letting a fire destroy someone's house for want of a $75 fee and not treating someone's medical problem for want of health insurance?

[hfojvt]

1. houses, much like corporations,

are not people

[Modern_Matthew]

2. Already happens.

A few years ago when my mom needed gall bladder surgery, she was waiting on some assistance to get approved...

She had a paper stating she was going to receive the assistance, but that particular doctor's office did not accept it. It wasn't enough for them.

The secretary told her she had waited a long time already and that a few more days wouldn't hurt her.

[JVS]

3. Big difference. A human life is at stake.

[Kennah]

4. And no human life is at stake when there's a house fire?

[JVS]

5. That department had a rule that if there was a life at stake they'd put it out anyway.

[saras]

10. And they always know ahead of time, of course.

[JVS]

18. Yes, they did. They would ask the person calling.

[saras]

20. Who replies "this house up at the corner of the block is on fire. I can't see any more from here."

[petronius]

21. Is that what happened in the incident the OP is referring to?

[Occulus]

7. In which case?

[flvegan]

6. Empathy is a cruel mistress for people.

Some folks get it, most don't.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. Another story from the "Fuck you, I have mine" file that the M$M forgot....

.....and the Democratic party has decided they are too far above to use as a hammer to drive the point home.

The death cheers Monday will go right in the same basket by week's end.

[Kennah]

9. Suppose the fire department lost the check or otherwise failed to record one had paid the fee?

Cue the Teabaggers shouting, "Let it burn!"

[Fumesucker]

11. Interesting that you didn't use the example of the man drowning in front of rescue crews..

http://californiaexaminer.net/2011/06/02/police-and-fire-crews-watch-man-drown-himself/

That one seemed to be a lot less controversial here on DU, indeed I recall at least one poster who was utterly outraged about the house burning incident but thought letting someone drown was OK.

[seabeyond]

12. huge. difference between a person and thing. really? you cant see the difference

or significance of the difference?

[CBGLuthier]

15. But they are all of the same conceptual ilk

Can you not see the trend?

[seabeyond]

17. i dont think so at all. would be like gay marriages, marriages to dogs.

material THING. PEOPLE.

two different animals.

[lunatica]

13. People are turned away for lack of insurance now

The step has been taken. Remember the Governor of Arizona turning people away who need transplants? Already happening.

[hobbit709]

14. It wasn't want of $75. It was REFUSAL to pay.

Look up the whole story on that one.

[Historic NY]

16. 22% of the NBC poll said too bad let it burn he didn't pay....

sounds like some of the let'em die people .

[woo me with science]

19. Good post. These stories need to be recalled together, along with

refusal to approve disaster funding in the absence of some ransom to the rich.