Young Turks: Man Drowns - Police, Firefighters Watch

[CherylK]

Run time: 04:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqJaEpucDY   Posted on YouTube: June 02, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 5096   Posted on DU: June 02, 2011 By DU Member: CherylK Views on DU: 1344

 
Did budget cuts lead to the drowning death of a man in Alameda California? Cenk Uygur breaks down a local news report on the story.

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[blackbart99]

1. A 20yr. old woman had bigger balls....

and went in the water to pull out the body. I would love to hear the conversations they were having
while watching him die. Granted....he was trying to kill himself, and succeeded. Maybe some one goes
out there(wades in) and tries to talk him in. How about a bull horn and talk to him, he's obviously
in a personal crisis, just speaking to him might have been enough to save him. Something......
No. Just stand there and watch....Fucking shameful. The firemen should quit, they are useless.

[earcandle]

2. Citizens beware...

[TatonkaJames]

3. What if it were one of their own ?

On duty or not, would they have tried to save a fellow officer or firefighter ?

[Indi Guy]

4. Excellent point...

I'd like to have heard the response to that hypothetical.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. Great Question

Did none of these Cops know how to swim? Maybe they need that training too.

[sulphurdunn]

6. Odds are those departments

are looking to cut staff because of budget cuts. There's no better way to get canned than to deliberately violate departmental procedures. Even a union contract can't save you then. If you've a family and a mortgage you're stuck on the horns of a life and death dilemma. You keep your home and your job or you go try to save the guy who wants to die. The problem here is not with the courage or competence of these public servants, most if not all of whom I'd wager went out and got seriously drunk after this. The problem is with a political and economic system that forces brave people to make cowardly choices in order to make a living for their dependents.

[doccraig67]

7. Man Drowns - Police, Firefighters Watch

If they are working in an official capacity representing the city, and are not certified to respond, they put both themselves and the city liable if they respond and then the guy drowns. Also, it's mentioned that the water was cold and without the proper gear(wet suit) to protect them from hypothermia, they could also drown. As a 20 yr ocean lifeguard, it has been my experience that on many occasions unqualified people often drown themselves trying to assist relatives or children who are in distressed or in drowning situations. It's the city's fault not the responder. You are asking him to jeopardize his job (which supports his wife and children), to assist a stranger who wants to die. I don't think is as easy a decision as some people make it.

[Egnever]

9. agreed

Cenk unfortunately is a simpleton who can only see black and white.

[Badsam]

8. I guess all the other people watching cant swim either?

rescuing a suicidal man while wearing 30 lbs of gun, ammo and gear and zero life guard training- see ya sucker!

[ScottLand]

10. Very sad. Like the firefighters that watched the guy's house burn down.