I need a history lesson.
Can anybody explain to me how firefighting became a political profession? That's not a local question; firefighting has been political in the United States for years. How did that happen, and when?
Locally there have been many political spats involving firefighters. The latest involves the City Council's disapproval of a new labor contract. Yesterday's discussions on the topic even turned catty, according to Deena Winter. Hmm, Catty Councilmembers Discuss? The LJS should look into it.
Anyway, it would be helpful to have lesson on the history of politics in firefighting so we can better understand why these spats continue to pop up. Can any of you fill in some of the gaps, even piecemeal?
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Where there are unions, there are politics.
“Where there are people, there are politics.” 😉
As to Mr. Wilson’s question, IIRC, the earliest professional fire brigades were organized by insurance companies; these were subsumed into a government service in this country in the mid- to late-1800s. (Any inevitable comparisons to health care are left as an exercise for the reader.) As police and fire are among the oldest services provided by local governments, it’s not terribly surprising that they play a significant role in local politics.
I think Lincoln’s problems most likely stem from the bizarrely caustic nature of local politics here rather than the baseline amount of political struggles between firefighters and elected officials.
Unions. Bingo!
Stupid unions with them responsible for giving us health insurance, 401k, 40 hour work weeks, and workplace safety laws!
And where there is Jon Camp,
there are politics…..
Amazing, considering that John Camp is a politician.
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