Yeah, I think it is philosophical. And I think you're right: my examples are shared needs that we as a community agree to help each other with. But I think the shared community agreement is more general than just fire and law enforcement: I think it's a shared commitment to helping out our fellow community members. And I think we have a tendency to only define our community as that which *we* think we belong to. In other words, I own a house and I may need a fireman to put out a fire, so I'm willing to pay taxes for him to put out your fire in exchange for the possibility that he made need to put out my fire. But I think the community is more general than that; I think it's all fellow human beings. I think we're all in this together. And I think we have a shared commitment to help each other...within reason.
And while many people may never go into the wilderness, they certainly could if they wanted to. And while they may not be adventurers, I can think of many episodes of "I Shouldn't Be Alive" that include searches for people who did not intend to be in the "wilderness", but they certainly found themselves there, such as after a car got stuck in unexpected snow, or a plane crashed.
Now, I actually agree with how Wayne County is handling the charges. If I'm out being ridiculously stupid and something bad happens, by all means, charge me. But if I get caught in a freak accident, please help me. Just because my neighbor isn't out there doing the same activity, doesn't make it any less of an unfortunate accident than an electrical fire in his house.
So, to me, I guess, the issue is that we help out our fellow humans when things mostly beyond their control conspire against them. And that's my definition of the shared commitment to the community.
And
ashergrey, interestingly enough, the counties with volunteers are not the ones that are charging for each rescue. I believe Grand County said it pays its SAR members, and it's the one that charges for all rescues. Why do they pay their SAR members when everyone else does it on a volunteer basis? I know that I have long thought about volunteering for the SAR team in Davis County, and I would never expect to be paid. No more than I would expect to be paid for volunteering as a Big Brother or helping at a retirement home. I get paid at work...not when I volunteer. That's why I don't understand why Grand County pays their members...do they not have any volunteers? From the story, it sounded like they pay them because at least some of the members don't have other jobs, so this is just a way to give them gainful employment. That seems a little gratuitous to me.
Good discussion! I hope I didn't offend anyone!