I was not going to bother to write about Balloon Boy because everyone else already has.

But there is something that truly bothers me about this, and all fabricated (yes, I said fabricated, as in made-up crap) and self-inflicted “emergencies.” Why should we-the-taxpayers have to bear any of the sometimes considerable costs of deploying law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency medical teams on this type of wild goose chase?

I understand that the cavalry has to be called out, and that these incidents have to be treated as actual emergencies until proven otherwise. I believe that once they are proven to be garbage, that the instigators need to pay for the services they abused. Not us.

Also. What happens if a rescuer is injured or killed in the process of “rescuing” one of these faker jagoffs? Obviously, as the spouse of someone employed in emergency services, my mind goes straight to that awful possibility. My husband, and everyone who signs on for that type of career, whether paid or volunteer, is well aware of the risks. But if a rescuer and their family has to pay the ultimate price on behalf of a faker jagoff, how can anything ever make up for that?

(NaBloPoMo | October ’09: 16 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 238 of 274)