My town is next.

[Raven]

Voters refused to pass the town budget 3 years now. One fire engine out of service and police have stopped doing routine security checks. The reaction of one of the town's "leaders" is:

"We can't help everybody. Some homes are just going to burn. It's God's will."

"I get my public safety from the barrel of an M16."

Exact quotes, really.

I asked this man if he would feel the same way if it were his house and his wife and kids were inside. Ddn't get an answer.

[fasttense]

1. Sounds like you have a town filled with Scrooges and Marleys

As Jacob Marley said: "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

It seems your town is neglecting their one true business.

[CanonRay]

2. These attitudes are now rampant in the US

and I'm not sure how we got that way. Conservative churches? FAUX News?

[bemildred]

4. Our government has been corrupt and illegitimate for a long time now.

This sort of attitude, idiotic though it is, is a consequence of that loss of legitimacy, the public in general cannot be relied on to be loyal to the state, in fact the state is seen as the enemy. Our political and economic leaders have only themselves to blame for it too, though I expect they will find someone else for that job.

[HughBeaumont]

5. A combo of both. Plus CorporAmerica has successfully divided and conquered us.

Politically and culturally. That, and the whole "holding American jobs hostage" thing until they get an even greater slice of the pie.

[RockaFowler]

9. The Haves vs The Have-Nots

I guess the only way you get anything nowadays is if you have money. That includes the government - look at Ghoul Rick Scott and Scary Meg Whitman

[Stinky The Clown]

3. That is as wrong as wrong can be, but it is also reality for a lot of communities

It is the very mindset that led to the TN incident.

[Toots]

6. The solution...."tax cuts for the wealthy"

The wealthy will have full coverage and that is all that is important in America :shrug:

[AldebTX]

7. My Town Is Right Behind Yours

Our town staff presented a balanced budget to a tea party controlled council. They are making cuts and outsourcing departments to try and save money. They want to give a big tax cut and are finding its more expensive to outsource then stay with current staff....but they HAVE TO PROVE their philosophy works. This week a spreadsheet was passed out showing we would break even on the outsourcing in 2051.

[seabeyond]

8. that is why i am arguing the fire issue and what the county has done and how it effects the nation

in gutting the democratic tax all for the safety net of all.

yet

i am the immoral person.

but it is exactly this that i see happening to this nation.... that i so much dont want to see, but is evident everywhere.

our schools
our libraries