Should lifeboatmen be paid?
Discussion
Have you got any kids? If so, and one of them was in the sea struggling and fighting for their life, and the only people who could reach that child were the lifeboat people would you not pay them everything you owned if it meant your child lived? I know I would.
Not sure where this question originated from, but think it a bit daft.
Harsh as it sounds the voluntary bit ensures the right people do the job imho.
I would also imagine, bar out of pocket expenses, most would find it insulting to be offered money, for example there are a lot that do it out family tradition and believe it to be an honour to be selected.
I would also imagine, bar out of pocket expenses, most would find it insulting to be offered money, for example there are a lot that do it out family tradition and believe it to be an honour to be selected.
I'm not a great one for supporting 'char-i-tee' but I have subscribed to the RNLI for years as an on-shore member as I have immense respect for anyone who would so willingly put their own safety at risk for others.
Touch wood, I have never had to call upon their services but the fact that there are selfless people out there who would come to my aid is really reassuring.
I can't help thinking that if it was a paid job the dynamic would change. I'd defer to the opinion of a lifeboat man or woman but in the meantime my view is keep it voluntary and make sure they don't go short on resources and equipment.
Touch wood, I have never had to call upon their services but the fact that there are selfless people out there who would come to my aid is really reassuring.
I can't help thinking that if it was a paid job the dynamic would change. I'd defer to the opinion of a lifeboat man or woman but in the meantime my view is keep it voluntary and make sure they don't go short on resources and equipment.
HarryW said:
Harsh as it sounds the voluntary bit ensures the right people do the job imho.
I would also imagine, bar out of pocket expenses, most would find it insulting to be offered money, for example there are a lot that do it out family tradition and believe it to be an honour to be selected.
That is my argument. And yes, If my child was drowning I would indeed give everything I owned to get them safe. That's also the point, how would you decide that risking your life was worth, say £35,000 but not £35,500???I would also imagine, bar out of pocket expenses, most would find it insulting to be offered money, for example there are a lot that do it out family tradition and believe it to be an honour to be selected.
Like I said at the start, keeping it voluntary means that you get people doing it that are in the game because it's the right thing to do, and that it's an honourable thing. You don't want someone heading out that's only doing it because it pays more than being an assistant manager at Tescos. My question wasn't do lifeboatmen (and women) DESERVE to be paid, IMO you couldn't think of a figure that would be enough for the bravery of these people. It was does keeping the RNLI as it is make sure that you get the best and only the best? I believe it does.
I have often wondered why lifeboats are not paid for by us through taxes. Afterall, we pay for the fire brigade and both do an importanty job rescuing those that need it. Personally I always give monet to the RNLI. Its the fact that Britain is supposed to be a maritime nation, but is too tight to rescue its sailors seems plain wrong.
I have sailed all my life and have never needed rescuing, but I am glad that the RNLI exist just in case!
Mind you, if we left it toi the government to pay the lifeboats would still be open rowing boats because 2 houses for MP's, and and 5 people to do one persons jon in Local Government would of course take priority.
On that basis, I have changed my mind.....Thank god the government arent involved.
But people who risk their lives to save others should be rewarded for it. Being on a boat in a major storm is one ofthe scariest things imaginable. To deliberately set out in that kind of weather to rescuse others, is something that few people would do whether paid or unpaid.
I have sailed all my life and have never needed rescuing, but I am glad that the RNLI exist just in case!
Mind you, if we left it toi the government to pay the lifeboats would still be open rowing boats because 2 houses for MP's, and and 5 people to do one persons jon in Local Government would of course take priority.
On that basis, I have changed my mind.....Thank god the government arent involved.
But people who risk their lives to save others should be rewarded for it. Being on a boat in a major storm is one ofthe scariest things imaginable. To deliberately set out in that kind of weather to rescuse others, is something that few people would do whether paid or unpaid.
I once asked a guy, who worked on an air ambulance for quite a few years, the same question. His opinion was that the charity status for these services was highly politicised and that key figures had quite alot to lose should these services be funded by the taxpayer. I assume he meant their jobs, income etc. Apparently, they don't even campaign for Gov't funding.
Not sure how true this is!
Not sure how true this is!
johnnywgk said:
Should have some kind of sea tax for boats etc. then the government should
pay them.
Another new tax? pay them.
Whether or not they should be paid, the tax-take is already high enough to pay them. If the gov't simply stopped wasting the money on it's pet projects eg; non-jobs, bogus wars, unnecessary building/IT projects, ridiculous 'compliance' enforcement, dole scroungers, MP's expenses etc then most 'wrongs' could be put right.
I only wish MP's had the same ethics as Lifeboatmen.
The train drivers who stayed at home because they couldn't get double pay could easily have volunteered and driven the trains for nothing.
As long as somebody does a job for free, no-one wil pay them for it. And if they are paid for it, they will not do it for free. So people who risk their lives at 3.00am on a dark night to save lives do it for free, and people who sit in a little chair holding a little handle and staring straight ahead demand double pay.
It's a weird world.
As long as somebody does a job for free, no-one wil pay them for it. And if they are paid for it, they will not do it for free. So people who risk their lives at 3.00am on a dark night to save lives do it for free, and people who sit in a little chair holding a little handle and staring straight ahead demand double pay.
It's a weird world.
I spoke with an RNLI guy and he said that the last thing they want is anything to do with the goverment. As it is they decide what they do, where and how. They don't have a huge committe to satisfy before they do what is needed in equipment and operations.
I think the goverment should subsidise the service allowing members to be paid and to compensate those families who loose someone in the service of others.
The people who go out on RNLI operations are deserving of our respect and yes I would probably say they deserve the title of heros.
I think the goverment should subsidise the service allowing members to be paid and to compensate those families who loose someone in the service of others.
The people who go out on RNLI operations are deserving of our respect and yes I would probably say they deserve the title of heros.
I spoke to an RNLI crew guy, he stated the service refused to go under government control as the red tape, cost cutting and everything else would destroy the service, they appear to be very happy to keep things as it is.
Should they be paid? this is tricky, they don't want paying, although if I remember correctly, the cox and engineer are full time. In my opinion you could not start to work out what they should earn, they risk everything when they go out, the other services do I know, especially the fire service, but when the boat goes out, there is no rescue plan for them, they risk it all to save others, how could you even start to put a payscale to that?
They are supremely brave people, they have fantastic boats available, and I really believe if you offered to pay them they would be offended beyond belief, they do what they do because it is tradition and they are passionate about the job.
We have a unique service with the RNLI, we should ALL support it, I live in Manchester and have been a shoreline member for years, you never know, and even if you never have to use them, there is always the fact your tiny contribution has helped save lives.
I am off to Falmouth very soon and whilst there I shall pop into the lifeboat station and hopefully get a tour of the Seven class they have on station, if you get the chance you should visit a station and check out the hardware, especially the Seven and Tamars, they are awesome bits of kit.
So, on reflection, no we should leave it alone, the crews seem happy and proud to help run the service, it is something everyone who contributes to in any way should be proud of as well.
What we should do to help is protest the fact there is talk of taxing marine band radio with no concession to Lifeboats which would ramp up the operating cost by a huge amount.
Should they be paid? this is tricky, they don't want paying, although if I remember correctly, the cox and engineer are full time. In my opinion you could not start to work out what they should earn, they risk everything when they go out, the other services do I know, especially the fire service, but when the boat goes out, there is no rescue plan for them, they risk it all to save others, how could you even start to put a payscale to that?
They are supremely brave people, they have fantastic boats available, and I really believe if you offered to pay them they would be offended beyond belief, they do what they do because it is tradition and they are passionate about the job.
We have a unique service with the RNLI, we should ALL support it, I live in Manchester and have been a shoreline member for years, you never know, and even if you never have to use them, there is always the fact your tiny contribution has helped save lives.
I am off to Falmouth very soon and whilst there I shall pop into the lifeboat station and hopefully get a tour of the Seven class they have on station, if you get the chance you should visit a station and check out the hardware, especially the Seven and Tamars, they are awesome bits of kit.
So, on reflection, no we should leave it alone, the crews seem happy and proud to help run the service, it is something everyone who contributes to in any way should be proud of as well.
What we should do to help is protest the fact there is talk of taxing marine band radio with no concession to Lifeboats which would ramp up the operating cost by a huge amount.
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