CAPITALISM: Profits Before Life
Many in our country feel that everything should be privatized, from road repairs to our military. Somehow they feel that corporations, which exist solely to make money, are a cheaper route than the government, which of course isn't in the profit business. It's one of the most infuriating and mind boggling ideas out there, and we are in a time of some totally bat shit crazy ideas about government.
We have already heard the nightmares of government contractors in Iraq. We've also heard the nightmare stories of privately run prisons and how they are making a mockery of our already highly broken justice system. But how about something else? How about a day at the beach? What could possible go wrong there if a private business takes over, say the lifeguard duties? Well check this out:
As lifeguards are paid and trained to do, Tomas Lopez rushed down the beach to rescue a drowning man — and then got fired for it.
The problem: Lopez stepped out of the beach zone his company is paid to patrol, a supervisor said Tuesday.
"I ran out to do the job I was trained to do," said Lopez, 21, of Davie. "I didn't think about it at all."
Now this story could have ended much worse, like the man drowning, but it still has a terrible ending - a man losing his job. And what is the justification for this harsh reaction by the man's employer, who should be holding him up as a hero?
Lifeguards in Hallandale Beach work for Orlando-based company Jeff Ellis and Associates, which has been providing lifeguard services for the city's beaches and pools since 2003.
Company officials on Tuesday said Lopez broke a rule that could've put beachgoers in his designated area in jeopardy. The firm could ultimately have been sued, officials said.
