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...is wealthy then it isn't unreasonable to think they should pay some proportion of the costs.


No, but you also have to take into account how much they already pay. In 2005 (latest year I found numbers for), the top 1% of taxpayers paid over 39% of the personal income taxes that year.

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Sometimes to the point of using rescue services for cheap transportation. Half way up the mountain they decide they no longer want to be out in the sticks. So they get on their cell-phone and claim they are in an emergency. Using expensive rescue services as a personal taxi. With the taxpayer picking up the check.


Bill it at overtime rates. Same thing goes for exceptionally risky activities (ie mountain climbing in winter) w/o proper planning and equipment including some form of locator beacon.

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If Bill Gates gets himself into a bind I don't think it is unreasonable for him to be required to chip in on the cost of his rescue.


Required? See above. Should the organizations involved have a very good year on fund raising? Yes. With his money I'd ask them what they needed.