Ambulance Fees

by James Simpson
Potomac News
Friday, June 11, 2004

Many people get upset when I write about the proper role of government and how its functions should be confined to a narrow set of responsibilities.

There are a multitude of reasons for my position on this issue. For one, the government is force - plain and simple. No matter how noble and honorable their beginnings, countries throughout the world, and throughout history, have always, eventually become tyrannical. Our Constitution was an effort to prevent this from happening here.

Unfortunately, as comprehensive as it is, it was not written with sufficient impediments to prevent "lifetime" politicians from using the power bestowed upon them to their advantage in pursuing reelection rather than for the righteous and proper goal of protecting citizens.

As an example of the consequences of fiscal mismanagement, Fairfax County has recently instituted a charge for rescue service. And like many ill conceived government efforts, this idea is spreading like a plague.

Tax and spend Chairman Sean Connaughton has similar aspirations for Prince William County. In a Potomac News report on Saturday, Mr. Connaughton speculated as to how much the County could charge per 911 call, as well as how much revenue could be generated through this additional fee.

Don't be fooled by the disclaimers that those who have no insurance will not have to pay or the charge will be sent to the insurance company. The charge is ultimately borne by John Q. Taxpayer - you.

If the government focused on the original intent of the founding fathers, and didn't try and be everything to everybody, we wouldn't be in the constant financial predicaments we are in. Taxes would fund services that protect and serve all citizens, and loans (a.k.a. bonds) would not be necessary to offset insufficient revenues.

I have quoted before, and will continue to quote until it sinks in to the thick skulls of our politicians, a statement made by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention in 1788: "You are not to inquire how your trade may be increased, nor how you are to become a great and powerful people, but how your liberties can be secured; for liberty ought to be the direct end of your Government."

Our politicians, while diligently working to remain in their current position, or even steadfastly pursuing higher office, tell the public that they are only yielding to the wishes of their constituents. They tell those of us who oppose using force to transfer revenue from one citizen to another (for such things as baseball stadiums, bluebird bus trips, and welfare) that as elected officials in a Democracy they must do what the people demand.

This is specifically why the United States was not designed as a Democracy. The United States was created as a Constitutional Republic, with a "democratic" voting process for selecting our representatives.

Representatives in a Constitutional Republic are supposed to protect us from the scourge of the masses. We should look at this no differently than being on a life boat in the middle of the ocean. A true and courageous leader would ration the foodstuffs and not acquiesce to the immediate pressure of the masses to consume all of the rations at once. He or she would similarly ensure that rations are not taken from the weaker members of the lifeboat by the more powerful members.

If the government is to protect citizens by providing police, fire and rescue (services that I should point out hardcore Constitutionalists believe are outside the scope of protecting citizens' liberty) then it should not be charging for rescue services while concurrently paying for a baseball stadium repairs, etc. This is fiscal mismanagement and irresponsibility.

The sacred duty that is entrusted to our elected officials is to protect the citizen taxpayers from those who would take the fruits of their labor without their consent. This trust is broken when elected officials charge citizens for services that they use during budget hearings as leverage in increasing our taxes. Those of us who wanted to limit the money taken from us to a reasonable increase were asked what we wanted cut from police, fire and/or rescue. And now that they socked it to us in real property taxes they want to come back for more. Their appetites are insatiable.

Next time you run across the tax and spend Chairman, out making his rounds collecting donations to fund his run for Lieutenant Governor, ask him why he supports spending your money for a business park or baseball stadium while simultaneously charging you for ambulance service.

James Simpson lives, and is taxed almost to death, in Lake Ridge.