Taxpayer Rescue Missions: Are They Ethical? Should Americans be rescued for free, even when their stupidity is what placed them in danger? According to the United States Coast Guard, the answer is yes. As Salant (1997) points out, the Coast Guard believes that free rescues are critical for public safety because fewer people would use rescue services if they actually had to foot the bill. The National Taxpayers Union disagrees, of course. With a limited budget, the government should not be spending money on people who “intentionally put themselves in danger,” (Salant, 1997, p. 1). While I agree with the National Taxpayers Union in principle, and shake my head at many of the stupid predicaments Americans find themselves in, I side more the Coast Guard. It is simply too difficult to draw the line between behaviors that some people consider risky and others do not. Also, accidents do happen. Americans do need a robust search and rescue service, and a public safety net that it can count on. Even if rescues for risky behavior can be costly, the overall goal of promoting a high quality of life in the country is being fulfilled. After all, the Coast Guard exists to safeguard American lives. If the organization spends $380 million...
References
Allen, A. (2014). Risky behavior by teens can be explained in part by how their brains change. The Washington Post. Sept 1, 2014. Retrieved online: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/risky-behavior-by-teens-can-be-explained-in-part-by-how-their-brains-change/2014/08/29/28405df0-27d2-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html?utm_term=.3d5d354563ab
“Distracted Driving,” (2017). Retrieved online: http://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/Distracted-Driving
Salant, J. (1997).Taxpayers Pay Millions for Rescues. Accessed at http://www.glencoe.com/sec/health/pdf/taxpayers.pdf on August 22, 2016.
Titcomb, J. (2016). Coastguard called out to rescue Pokémon Go players chasing rare creature across lake. The Telegraph. Retrieved online: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/07/19/coastguard-called-out-to-rescue-pokemon-go-players-chasing-rare/
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