Why We Pay Taxes

It's nearly a weekly ocurrance; a fire engine backed up 

by an ambulance enters my apartment complex, 

sirens screaming, lights flashing, and horns blaring, 

"Get out of my way! Get out of my way! 

Somebody needs help!" Someone in the neighborhood 

must have respiratory issues, because a few minutes later, 

the fire apparatus leaves, while the EMTs remain behind, 

presumably to check on the person for whom 

they were summoned.

This afternoon, however, they all came, 

from the station house about a mile away, 

as well as other stations two or three 

miles distant. Someone had reported a fire

in their apartment, where the firefighters,

clothed in Nomex, oxygen masks, heavy boots,

 and electronic gear swarmed upon the blaze.

Here, a battalion chief dons his turnout gear 

and gathers his equipment, while three firefighters 

from one of the more distant stations, 

walk towards the scene.

Adams, Able, and Ardizzone, stride in step, 

intent upon the task that faces them.

In coordinated, well-rehearsed routine, the men and women

entered the home, the aerial ladder was deployed, hose laid out

and charged. Additional men went to the roof, where they cut

through with a chain saw to get any flames that may have

escaped detection from inside. 

It really was over within a short while, all but the checks 

of the residence, the paper work, and the clean-up.

With a multi-person dwelling, they take no chances, whether

the number of lives involved is one or one hundred;

I have been awakened at 3 in the morning to evacuate my

building because of a blaze just around the corner.

It is a mission. They come when we are in dire need 

to provide medical assistance, to put out fires, 

to save us, our loved ones and our pets from misfortune

and misadventure. They are paid with our taxes. 

There are people who want no taxes to be collected, 

who would be very indignant if no one came to put out 

the grease fire, to splint up a broken arm and take

them to the hospital, to rescue a cat from a tree.

Today, the firemen brought out three red-tailed boa 

constrictors that belonged to the women,

a mother and daughter, who kept them as pets.

It is already happening in communities in our area.

There's no money to pay EMTs, so they are laid off.

Some towns have disbanded their police forces

due to a lack of funds. The bureaucrats are doing their

best to break down our educational system, too.

Money keeps them in office, while they ignore 

the needs of the community that paid the revenue.

"My way or the highway" is not good for people,

but it may just get its narrow-minded self elected if 

thinking people do not vote in the coming elections.