Fire-fighting equipment grounded by red tape

Fire-fighting cargo planes and helicopters were grounded by foot-dragging government red tape in California. The delay in getting the equipment airborne is inexcusable, and the fires roared and gained in intensity as the equipment sat by and watched. Read the article here.

Of course, the governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, made up a lame excuse about the winds being too intense for the coptors and planes. But it seems the delay allowed the winds to pick up. Had the government reacted swiftly, the wind problem, it seems, would not have been the issue.

Am I wrong, but didn't the fire start on public land, and is being fought by public employees? Supposedly the cause was arson, but can't the government protect its own land? I'm sure they wouldn't let anyone burn down the Capitol. Update: another good article just appeared on mises.org.

When will people realize, that although not a great president, Ronald Reagan said at least one thing right: "Government is not the solution, government is the problem."