“Oh, thank goodness!” Mrs. Malinowski yells as the firetruck stops in front of her burning home.
“Howdy ma’am,” a firefighter slowly exits the truck, “What seems to be the problem?”
“My house is burning.”
“No, I mean with paying your fire department premiums.”
“Don’t I pay through taxes?”
“We’ve been privatized, ma’am. The mayor said that by providing a fire department it only encouraged people to have fires knowing there would be a government bailout.”
“But I need help! My house is on fire!”
“You socialists make me sick,” the firefighter spits.
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On one level, I giggled at this. On another, I was mildly annoyed by the depiction of callous firefighters. Then I chuckled as a third layer struck and it was all right.