Pay on time, or die.

What has America come to? In a Tennessee town a house burned down the other day. As firemen watched. Apparently, the homeowner didn't pay an annual $75 surcharge to the fire department. Over and above his property tax bill. The homeowner said he offered to pay at the scene. But no. Firemen said it was too late. You gotta pay on time. Several of the man's pets were killed in the blaze. I guess the people escaped. But you wonder, would the firemen have left people die if they had been trapped in the fire? Wouldn't surprise me if the answer was 'yes.' Pay the surcharge on time, or die. --Jim Broede