The UK didn't really make a deliberate 'choice'. The RNLI evolved to fill a need that Government wasn't funding; the Coast Guard is only two years older than t

The UK didn't really make a deliberate 'choice'. The RNLI evolved to fill a need that Government wasn't funding; the Coast Guard is only two years older than the RNLI but was formed to prevent smuggling and to protect shipwrecks. Once the RNLI was founded as a charity there was of course no pragmatic reason to dedicate tax money to that mission, so here we are today. The contracted Coast Guard helicopter pilots on £150k each hovering beside a lifeboat staffed by volunteers. Whilst the paid RNLI executives sleep. Something's not right there and that's not a model I'd encourage others to adopt. If maritime rescue is considered worthwhile then it should be professionally rewarded, and at all levels.