OK, I just can't help but be impressed by all the folks who are so proud of their freedoms and liberty that they feel entitled to force them on everyone else. This post copied below pushed me over the edge. If I've read the soap box posts correctly each of the writers homes have a fully functional alarm system with CO, fire, heat rise and smoke detectors. They also have a fully functional sprinkler system covering every square inch of their home, garage, and any other outbuildings. Their cars have an automatic fire suppression system in it similar to a race car. They carry a full array of fire extinguishers to "assist" any other motorist who has trouble. To aid in this they also monitor all police, fire, ambulance and tow truck radio frequencies so that if they are closer they can respond immediately. Each writer also has a personal body guard with them to protect them every day 24/7, so they would never need to call for police assistance. Obviously without these MANDATORY (in my mind) items, you will be using MY TAX DOLLAR for your rescue from harm. Each motorist has a RIGHT to have every other motorist come to their assistance if they have a problem. After all, as the poster says, without them "if you got into real trouble, I'd bet you'd be right on the radio calling for your government to help you". That is obviously wrong as so many of you have pointed out. Or did I read all those posts wrong? Did they say that it was OK to call for help and expect others to come to their aid and spend my tax dollar because they bought a radio? Did they really mean to say that someone who didn't buy a radio doesn't deserve those benefits which THEIR tax dollars pay for also? How small minded, self righteous and myopic can we be? Isn't there room here for people who do things differently? Who gets to decide what is right for each individual? Isn't freedom to do things as you see fit one of our basic beliefs? There was a boat fire in Seattle yesterday. Three boats were extensively damaged. One firefighter fell in the water and could have been seriously hurt or killed if he had not been seen by others. Should we jump up on our soapboxes and DEMAND that everyone buy automatic fire extinguishers for their boats/homes/cars so that "20-year old USCG sailor never has to die trying to save you." (I think you get my point exchanging firefighter for sailor) I've boated continuously for 30 years with a VHF radio. I had an old crystal VHF prior to the new, one radio gets all channels radios. I bought a Loran receiver when they were ONLY $800.00. I use radar every time I'm out of the marina. I carry 6 fire extinguishers on my 40' boat. But that's MY comfort level. If someone doesn't have what I have, that's their choice. I may tell them my choice and the reasons why I chose a certain level of protection, but beyond that, it's not my business to demean someone because they chose differently. And, in my opinion, it's not your business either. Ken In a message dated 12/8/2009 9:00:51 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com writes: My sentiments exactly. I hope a 20-year old USCG sailor never has to die trying to save you. Self determination has costs and consequences. In a message dated 12/8/2009 12:00:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com writes: Sure enough. You're free to do what you want. Hopefully it will never happen, but if you got into real trouble, I'd bet you'd be right on the radio calling for your government to help you though. And you'd expect them to send boats, helicopters, planes, whatever...to get you out of the mess you got yourself into. And I doubt you'd expect to receive a bill for the help...

Bucks2@aol.com wrote: > "OK, I just can't help but be impressed by all the folks who are so proud > of their freedoms and liberty that they feel entitled to force them on > everyone else. This post copied below pushed me over the edge. " > Seems to me that we have somehow come to a place in this country where we love to talk about Freedom and how we love it, yet the first time someone does anything we don't really care for we scream for something to be done about. From telling people what color they can paint their house in many localities to telling people who they make a lifetime commitment/marriage with, to what safety equipment they must have........ What happened to realizing that freedom means that people are going to choose to live their lives in pursuit THEIR happiness, not yours not mine. And yes, this means that at times, we may have to rescue idiots from themselves, but thats better than giving the government total control of our lives, we educate the best we can and go from their as far as I'm concerned.

ok everyone, deep breath, hoooold it, and slowwwly let it out. This is "our" sandbox, and everyone gets to play, respectfully. Lets try and leave this subject for a little time out. Richard