I know you were instrumental in establishing the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia in 1736 — one of the country’s first bucket brigades — so you must have some expertise in the field of fighting fires. My question for you, sir, is: how long should one normally wait before calling in the firefighters, when a blaze has been raging out of control for over two years now? (I’m referring to the ongoing inferno in Washington DC as members of one unnamed political party continue doing everything in their power to burn our current democracy to the ground). — Toasted in Toledo
Dear Toasted,
Thank you for the compliment! Yes, starting the Union Fire Company was one of my proudest achievements.
A short answer to your question: you should always call for help as soon as possible, after a fire begins.
Otherwise, once it gets out of control, you run the risk of losing everything near and dear to you — your home, your prized possessions, and even the lives of loved ones. There is absolutely no excuse for waiting to see how the emergency plays out. Precious seconds could be lost, and all you’ve worked for will surely go up in a puff of smoke.
Now, as to that other conflagration you referred to — the political one in our nation’s capital — that’s a disaster of epic proportions that threatens the very fabric of our civilization. As the historians liked to point out, Emperor Nero was said to have “fiddled” while Rome burned, and I’m greatly concerned that we are now following in the footsteps of that once-great empire, piddling and twiddling away the time as our government keeps sliding faster and further into chaos. Soon, we may be at the point of no return.
Sadly, it is my personal opinion that some of the so-called leaders who have been entrusted with the reins of our formerly robust, world-respected democracy have not only been ignoring the blaze for the past 24 months — worse yet, instead of taking active measures to contain it and bring it to an end, they’ve actually been pouring gasoline on the flames, creating an even bigger catastrophe with each passing day!
What advice do I have for you regarding this horrific turn of events? Very simply, bring in a whole new company of firefighters! Put the present do-nothing brigade out to pasture, the sooner the better. And by all means, immediately prosecute the arsonists and traitors responsible for starting the fire, for they are not only endangering our lives and livelihoods, they are putting at risk the very future of our country… and our world! (As you’ve already learned in the history books, one spark could ignite an even more serious, world-wide calamity!)
Back in my day, we used to hang traitors. Just sayin’ …
Your humble servant,
B. Franklin