Carnival Cruise Line has no intentions of repaying US for millions in rescue help

[Dennis S]

Rockefeller may make them wish they had paid.

http://skift.com/2013/04/03/carnival-tel...ph-rescue/

[Chakravartin]

Posturing.

What a silly notion.

Rich people/companies don't pay taxes.

[OWC Jamie]

Rockafellah should send every single one of those passengers a bill for their share of their assistance.
They'll wish they never went on vacation because rockafellah is just so very bad-ass.

[cbelt3]

If the USCG had taken the ship under tow, they'd be up for a 10-20% VALUE salvage fee. No questions asked. $Millions.

Carnival's point is accurate.... the sea rule of rendering assitance is immutable. Perverting it in a Congressional money grubbing expedition is stupid.

[JPK]

Isn't that why we have a coast guard in the first place? To help rescue distressed mariners? Whether it is a big corporate owned ship or some bozo in a catamaran?

On a much smaller scale, my father dislocated his hip requiring a 911 call and trip to the ER in January. Our local fire department came and strapped him in and took him to the ER. Two weeks later, I get a bill for over $1000 from the fire department.

What am I missing here? I pay my fair share of taxes for good schools, plowed roads and police and fire service. I thought these taxes were like municipal insurance where everyone pays a portion so you have a service when you need it? I am gonna sit on this for a long time and see what happens. This might get interesting.

I you want to make these kinds of services "pay as you go" fine, then I want my tax money back for all the years I paid but didn't use it.

This sure seems like "double dipping" to me!

JPK

[max]

They are....

[cbelt3]

JPK-
Many local FD's bill for ambulance rides. It's a case of "They can" and "they need the money". My local FD only bills non residents.

Ed- the initial mission of the coast guard was as customs tax collectors. The rescue mission came later. They also act as a naval territorial guard. Remember they are a branch of the military.

[OWC Jamie]

Job-creation-extraordinaire Sen Rockefeller apparently declined conference calls with his peers in Houston
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Po...051674.php




Maybe Mr Job-creator has too many advisors drawn from West Virginia's huge pool of world-class Maritime Terminals.

[Dennis S]

JPK,

The FD would have put his fire out for free, probably. An ambulance would have charged him close to $1,000. The FD probably picked him up because of logistical reasons. So, he doesn't get a free ride to the ER regardless.

[Mac1337]

Carnival would be breaking with tradition if they reimbursed. Next time they hail for help the Navy should sink their cruise ship, then see if they complain about paying.