Last week, a home in rural Tennessee burned for hours, right to the ground. The fire department watched it burn and did nothing to help, because the family hadn't paid into the county's subscription-only fire service.

Firefighters refused to act until the property of a neighbor caught fire. The neighbor had paid the $75 subscription fee.

The firefighters then called the police on reporters from WHSU Local 6 who tried to question them.

The local news report says the community is angry about the incident, but that outrage over a house that burned down in similar circumstances in 2008 didn't move the mayor of the nearby town of Fulton.

Is this the type of outcome people have in mind when they talk about wanting a smaller government with fewer public employees?