Why do Republicans hate Firefighters...

[Earth Bound Misfit]

AND police... AND garbage collectors...AND municipal workers...AND all the other services that repubs contend aren't jobs, but merely "work"?


In their list of 'complaints' against the stimulus package they said they wanted to deny $500 million for firefighters.

[anonymous171]

1. They help maintain order.

The GOP hates that. They want us to return to the good old days when the rich and powerful ran everything (Feudalism.)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

3. "Embrace your inner Serf"?

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/As_public_firefighting_decays_billion_dollar_1210.html">Another explanation...

The politics of private-firefighting

Some private firefighting firms or their owners have made hefty donations to the Republican Party and prominent elected officials. Mike Wheelock, owner of Greyback Forestry Inc. in Oregon, one of the largest and most elite private firefighting contractors with substantial federal contracts, gave a whopping $25,000 to the Republican National Congressional Committee in 2006, as well as large donations to George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and other prominent GOP leaders.

Privatization of government services is a key plank promoted by prominent Republican leaders including conservative strategist Grover Norquist – the Washington maven famously quoted for his desire to shrink government to be small enough to “drown it in a bathtub.” In 2005, a media strategist for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s told campaign donors of a plan to promote a `phenomenon of anger’ aimed at turning California voters against firefighters and other public employee union members to help pass ballot initiatives aimed at breaking up public unions and, perhaps, support privatization of firefighting and other public services.

“What we’re going to hear more of is sort of blaming the victims of these natural disasters who don’t pay the higher premiums to get this special service,” author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism Naomi Klein said on Democracy Now! Radio in July. “You're starting to hear the language of personal responsibility…`It’s up to you to protect you and your family. You can’t look to the government.’”

[Believing Is Art]

2. Because firefighters are sexy

The Republicans hate any profession that can stir the lustful feelings in women. Pure of mind and all.

That was bs, but I'm a big fan of firefighters.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. **Snicker** n/t