This past weekend, my girlfriend, Sato, and I were rescued.
We were sailing on a 1970s-era Minifish boat at the time. We quickly capsized - Sato's grandpa had mentioned that this might happen, and we had a plan of action. We were drenched, but hardly dispirited.
But when we mounted the vessel, the rudder flopped ominously to the side. A bolt had come loose and popped off amidst the fray. In one critical moment, our steering apparatus had become a useless burden.
I can't say for sure how much time passed before the fireboat arrived. We tried to kick the boat towards shore. We tried the "human rudder" technique. All the while, as the tide moved seaward, we drifted helplessly on towards the horizon.
When the fireboat arrived and hoisted us to safety, we thanked our saviors profusely. They were a goodhearted bunch, mostly amused by our predicament. We motored to shore, and I asked one of the crew how much the rescue operation was going to cost me.
He explained that, in fact, the rescue was a free service. It is what the fire department does.
In our society, endangered citizens do not hesitate to call 911. Imagine if the police sent someone a bill after investigating an armed robbery or sexual assault. In America, we can do better than that. As such, even though Sato and I faced a danger rather mundane, something more like an embarrassing inconvenience, we were rescued for free.
Unfortunately, this logic does not hold true in so many regards. We can afford to save poor people from burning buildings, but they will need to choose between electricity and insulin. Or maybe they won't be able to afford either.
This double standard illuminates the basic incoherence of modern budget hawkery. There are certain rights (and, granted, a large region of gray area) required by every citizen. This is why we don't privatize the police. And, when the time comes to consider our budget priorities, these basic rights should not be used as bargaining chips; they should not be on the table.
President Obama, in this week's address, asks Congress to renew a transportation bill so that roads, bridges, and highways can be repaired and maintained. This is a responsibility that Congress needs to bankroll with federal dollars, regardless of our fiscal dilemma. It will be a sound investment in terms of job growth, efficiency, and quality of life. But just as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor questions whether government can afford to provide emergency assistance to Irene victims, Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have made a habit of disregarding these basic rights in what the President labels "political gamesmanship."
We will see in the weeks to come whether the transportation bill will precipitate another rancorous stalemate or, at long last, bipartisan compromise. The President is worried, which is understandable, following the summer-long debt ceiling theatrics. But I would rather wait for Republicans to flesh out a coherent response before invoking panic and dire warnings. Best not to cry wolf. And it would seem that if Congress can agree on anything, filling potholes would be a good place to start.
I say, let's hope Washington puts pavement before politics, and enjoy the free roads while we've got them.
We were sailing on a 1970s-era Minifish boat at the time. We quickly capsized - Sato's grandpa had mentioned that this might happen, and we had a plan of action. We were drenched, but hardly dispirited.
But when we mounted the vessel, the rudder flopped ominously to the side. A bolt had come loose and popped off amidst the fray. In one critical moment, our steering apparatus had become a useless burden.
I can't say for sure how much time passed before the fireboat arrived. We tried to kick the boat towards shore. We tried the "human rudder" technique. All the while, as the tide moved seaward, we drifted helplessly on towards the horizon.
When the fireboat arrived and hoisted us to safety, we thanked our saviors profusely. They were a goodhearted bunch, mostly amused by our predicament. We motored to shore, and I asked one of the crew how much the rescue operation was going to cost me.
He explained that, in fact, the rescue was a free service. It is what the fire department does.
In our society, endangered citizens do not hesitate to call 911. Imagine if the police sent someone a bill after investigating an armed robbery or sexual assault. In America, we can do better than that. As such, even though Sato and I faced a danger rather mundane, something more like an embarrassing inconvenience, we were rescued for free.
Unfortunately, this logic does not hold true in so many regards. We can afford to save poor people from burning buildings, but they will need to choose between electricity and insulin. Or maybe they won't be able to afford either.
This double standard illuminates the basic incoherence of modern budget hawkery. There are certain rights (and, granted, a large region of gray area) required by every citizen. This is why we don't privatize the police. And, when the time comes to consider our budget priorities, these basic rights should not be used as bargaining chips; they should not be on the table.
President Obama, in this week's address, asks Congress to renew a transportation bill so that roads, bridges, and highways can be repaired and maintained. This is a responsibility that Congress needs to bankroll with federal dollars, regardless of our fiscal dilemma. It will be a sound investment in terms of job growth, efficiency, and quality of life. But just as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor questions whether government can afford to provide emergency assistance to Irene victims, Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have made a habit of disregarding these basic rights in what the President labels "political gamesmanship."
We will see in the weeks to come whether the transportation bill will precipitate another rancorous stalemate or, at long last, bipartisan compromise. The President is worried, which is understandable, following the summer-long debt ceiling theatrics. But I would rather wait for Republicans to flesh out a coherent response before invoking panic and dire warnings. Best not to cry wolf. And it would seem that if Congress can agree on anything, filling potholes would be a good place to start.
I say, let's hope Washington puts pavement before politics, and enjoy the free roads while we've got them.
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