Police and fire are paid for by local or state taxes, with some federal outlays via matching grant programs. Cities and states are free to start their own local

Police and fire are paid for by local or state taxes, with some federal outlays via matching grant programs. Cities and states are free to start their own local and state tax funded programs. The only thing getting in the way is the enormous cost! Because the US does provide for tax funded healthcare for the old (Medicare) and the pregnant/poor/disabled (Medicaid). The [cost of these programs](https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/the-facts-on-medicare-spending-and-financing/ https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/the-facts-on-medica...) is greater than US military spending.