Comments on: Charleston Mourns Its Fallen Firefighters

South Carolina City Remembers Nine Men Killed In Massive Furniture Store Blaze

[BlueInWI]

These men are the finest examples of true public servants. They made the ultimate sacrifice and for no other reward than an income to support themselves and their families, along with deep personal satisfaction. We should consider this every time we badmouth government and praise the corporate private sector where a CEO that leads Yahoo so poorly he is forced to resign earns $71,000,000 / year in salary.

Or when we look to private for-profit no-bid contractors such as Halliburton to solve our problems. I wouldn't want to depend on Halliburton to pull me out of the towers on 9/11 or come in to a smoldering furniture store to save friends or family.

The private sector is a great thing; but its needs have to be BALANCED with those of society as a whole. Over the past almost 30 years we have slanted dangerously in the other directions where profits and the greed of the few outweigh the needs and best interests of the many.

1980 - 8.1% of annual total income in the US earned by top 1% of wage earners

2006 - 17+% of annual total income in the US earned by top 1% of wage earners.

Some people just never have enough... while others are working harder for less and less. Our founding fathers didn't want to build another plutocracy/aristocracy like Britain, but a society where everyone had an equal opportunity to excel...

[papergrl]

Sorry about the accidental double post. Thought I beat the publish button to edit my thought better...still, my point is made.

[mbievtea]

God Bleas Them ... but someone should ask the question ... WHAT WERE THEY DOING INSIDE A BURNING BUILDING (FROM ACCOUNTS IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BURNING)WITH NO ONE INSIDE? WHAT BUSINESS DO THEY HAVE BEING INSIDE?

[papergrl]

Sorry, Omega39 - I guess having daily coverage of the war and the troop losses isn't enough to qualify as full court press coverage. I've seen plenty of stories about towns all over America who have lost more than their fair share of soldiers and the body count is usually the first bit of news we're exposed to in the morning. I mourn those losses daily and to suggest that the American public does not take notice is insulting.

Firemen walk into danger every day without press coverage or political talking heads squabbling over their fate. Let small town heroes be honored without throwing politics in, please.

[barbaraf4]

"They should have had sprinkler's! What was it worth in savings, even if it wasn't required?? It's a furniture store??? What did they think a fire would do in that place?! Those lives are gone! I'm so sad and angry! My heartfelt sympathy's to all friends and family. They should have put sprinkler's in .. hindsight is 20/20."
Posted by linfinster at 08:32 AM : Jun 20, 2007

It is my understanding that sprinkler's are required to bring a building to code and save tons on insurance (I could be wrong or naive or both); however, if you own a business and you choose not to install sprinklers, then you need a way to track which employees are on site at any given time. Then, you don't have nine men dying because they are chasing a rumor of another employee in the building.

[barbaraf4]

"Although I am also saddened by the untimely deaths and the grief that the firemen families will endure, I also wonder why the emotional outpouring and full court press coverage is virtually nonexistent when one of our troops meets an untimely end in Iraq or Afghanistan."
Posted by omega39 at 09:00 AM : Jun 20, 2007

Very well said, omega39.

[dukeudevil]

Hang in there, Charleston.

[omega39-2009]

Although I am also saddened by the untimely deaths and the grief that the firemen families will endure, I also wonder why the emotional outpouring and full court press coverage is virtually nonexistent when one of our troops meets an untimely end in Iraq or Afghanistan.

[iceman_1960]

"President Bush said in a statement the firefighters were "true heroes who demonstrated great skill and courage. Their unwavering commitment to their neighbors and to the city of Charleston is an inspiration to all Americans."

Well said.

They were true heroes.

[linfinster]

They should have had sprinkler's! What was it worth in savings, even if it wasn't required?? It's a furniture store??? What did they think a fire would do in that place?! Those lives are gone! I'm so sad and angry! My heartfelt sympathy's to all friends and family. They should have put sprinkler's in .. hindsight is 20/20.