Freedom Vs. Safety II

There was a howl of sirens in our neighbourhood a few weeks ago and soon there were two police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance in the townhouse complex across and down the street from us. I assumed there was a domestic disturbance and someone was hurt and someone was being taken down. Not so. My friend lives there and told me a few days ago what it was all about. There was a 70 year old man delivering strata meeting notices and he tripped and fell over a curb. It turned out he broke his hip. Does this make you shake your head? It should. If it does not, you have been successfully 'dumbed' down.
Last summer there was a burning pot on a stove in the house across the street. Three fire trucks showed up and later a fourth for back-up. There was minimal smoke damage and no fire.
Several years ago, I had to call 911 because of a heart attack victim I was helping. Two fire trucks and two ambulances showed up even though I told them specifically there was only one victim.
A Polish immigrant in the Vancouver airport is upset that he cannot get anyone to communicate to him in his native tongue. Four big burly cops show up, taser him, and he dies.
A man and his son are walking through a wooded park with a pellet gun and suddenly the Chilliwack S.W.A.T. team takes them both down and haul them off to jail.
Last week in our fair city, some exuberant teen aged boys were driving around and one of them exposed his multi-coloured, super soaker-like marshmallow gun ( a toy designed to fire miniature marshmallows), someone reported the activity, and the S.W.A.T. team 'took them down' in a most dramatic fashion.
Do you see anything wrong here. If not, you have been successfully 'dumbed down'. I did not say dumb, just 'dumbed down'.
The Ambulance in the above photo is from the 50's. Ambulances back then were a rare sight and it was when people had more common sense and also taxes were lower. Let's go back there for a moment. My friend and I are walking through the middle of our small town, our loaded .22 caliber rifles over our shoulders, and nobody blinks an eye. It is a common occurrence and is of no concern. Here is why. People were given some credit for intelligence back then. There were no politically correct safety Nazis patrolling the streets looking for danger. Everybody had guns and every kid in town was taught gun safety by his father who was taught gun safety by his father. And nobody ever got shot. Is that not a miracle? Not really. There was a lack of paranoia back then that was freeing.
Today, total safety is paramount at all cost. So we have an over abundance of fire trucks and ambulances, whose crews are mostly sitting around all day and are trained to the hilt. Now a call comes in, the adrenaline rushes, and they have a purpose and chance to break the boredom. And do they ever! I am sure you have seen it over and over again as have I.
Have you ever noticed how in the more primitive countries, when there is a train wreck or car bomb, the victims are unceremoniously tossed onto a pick-up truck or thrown into an ambulance? This is not what I am advocating. I am advocating a considered response that is adequate, timely, and helpful. If more help is needed, call for it.
More on this later. I need to take my blood pressure medication.