Jeeez! Someone finally woke up and realized this?
It's been brought up a gazillion times over the last 30 years.
Posted on 08/02/2007 11:16:41 AM PDT by chessplayer
NEW YORK (AFP) - The deadly collapse of a road bridge in Minnesota has raised questions about America's aging infrastructure, with experts warning that billions need to be spent to bring standards up to scratch.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
We already collect billions in taxes for just these kinds of repairs. Somehow, they keep getting diverted to some liberal’s Social Crisis of the Year program.
CNN is reporting that this collapse can be traced to the “fact” that because of the war in Iraq there’s not enough money available to fix bridges.
I’m not kidding.
Too bad for CNN that bridge repair and war funding come from two separate funds.
First time I remember hearing this was back in 1974 or so when the Mars probe sent back the first pictures of the Red Planet. I was very young then...but I do recall the story has run regularly to today. The stories on the the dangers facing the Social Security Program started about that time also...and the Alt Min Tax soon after that.
whoa double post that managed to get a post in the middle
Not that there aren't some bridges that need repair, but the media loves to make isolated incidents national crises. (see shark attacks, global warming, killer bees, el nino, la nina, hurricane Katrina, e coli, abortion clinic bombings, Virginia Tech shooting, highway sniper, pit bulls, anything but islamic terrorism and illegal immigration.)
“CNN is reporting that this collapse can be traced to the “fact” that because of the war in Iraq there’s not enough money available to fix bridges.
I’m not kidding.”
We all know this is coming. Any backdoor way to attack the President and conservatives. And to get more tax revenue from the taxpayers...
Amazing stuff, that.
L
It has been a “whine” of mine for a long time now.
The responsibility for this tragedy must be laid at the feet of the Democrats who controlled congress when this bridgre was built. If not for the blatant disregard for the safety of American citizens, this would not have happened.
We already collect billions in taxes for just these kinds of repairs. Somehow, they keep getting diverted to some liberal’s Social Crisis of the Year program.
Ya, It’s called light rail. There is a push to create the second line of light rail here in mpls. This second line would link the two downtowns (mpls/ St paul) The cost of this short straight 10 mile section of track would cost as much as adding two lanes to the entire 494/694 97 mile loop surrounding the twin cities.
add electrical grid to that too... upgrades are a big part of my paycheck & bonus... spend on infrastructure now... I need a new truck!
What did Bush know and when did he know it?
Gee, they haven’t learned yet that monies for fixing infrastructure MUST be used for that purpose, or returned to the treasury. Case in point: The Levees in New Orleans. Hundreds of millions of $$ were provided to fix the levees, and nothing more than the occasional basic maintenance were performed.
Bush’s fault for being in iraq, no doubt. This will probably be the talking point on every MSN outlet today or tomorrow.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand the liberal mind. I can pretty well guess how it’s going to work, but I will never understand why.
Or for creating new beauracracies (Homeland Security), or for wars.
I'm astounded by how many billions we've spent in Iraq.
Come on now - don’t you know that federal bridge projects are mostly wasteful “Pork” spending and should only be funded locally!
/Sarcasm
That is what it all boils down to. The U.S. infrastructure was designed to handle the traffic loads of today.
Did you think it would be free?
It was well known by anybody that cared 30 years ago that much of the infrastructure was in need of repair or replacement. NYC itself is a century past expiration. You can get gov’t money easily enough for new construction, but maintenance is out of the local pockets. That is how municipalities get so heavy into bond debt. The voters vote for new schools etc. but not much for maintenance, so they have all these bonds and old infrastructure.
You know, this would never happen on Alaska’s Bridge to NOWHERE...they’d have backup funds for years to keep it going NOWHERE.
“Dead” on.
The standards aren't the issue. Bringing the bridges up to them might be. Pity there aren't any standards of English up to which this reporter's stories might be brought...
How much money was spent on Boston’s Big Dig again? I ask because that’s already falling apart after just a few years.
Every House or Senate “earmark” in the Transportation budget removes money from the DOT people responsible for allocating funds to repair bridges like this.
... LOL...
Yep, I know, I read the NERC reports all the time.
I’m glad I work on this stuff.
Just about every bridge in California has been retrofitted over the past 15 years, to withstand current expected earthquakes. Some will surely fail, but this makes them exceedingly unlikely to just fall down due to lack of maintenance. California bridges are in tip-top shape.
This despite the Dem Libs continual robbing of highway money to cover budget shortfalls year after year. But then, California has mastered the “borrow and spend” maneuver.
Prepare for the addition of another increase in the gasoline tax, too, while we "tax the crap out of Big Oil"...
The list goes on....
The money did not go to that under Clinton? I am shocked! (EXTREME sarcasm)
Ask any highway engineer old enough to remember how long it took to build a bridge in 1957 as compared with doing the same project today. Hint: how long did it take to build the Empire State Building as compared with how long it has taken to GET STARTED on replacing the twin towers.
Taxpayers are likely opposed to increasing the tax(18.4 cents now).
Dingell has proposed a 50 cent/gallon "carbon" tax.
I'll go and turn on some lights. ; )
If this is the case, we have a serious and widespread problem, and if we don't raise some taxes and fees somewhere we're gonna be looking at collapses all over the place.
What about what we have spent on federal aid to education in the past six years? That is money down the rat hole that is about half of what we spend on war. War, at least, is a federal function.
Nah I don’t produce power, but if you guys can overload a few grids then we can sell our products to power producers that are trying to squeeze every amp they can out of what they have... LOL
Jeeez! Someone finally woke up and realized this?
It's been brought up a gazillion times over the last 30 years.
/sarc
Perhaps the States should take matters into their own hands, and just keep the gas tax they collect, and spend it locally. The ones with heavy traffic have the most need, and collect the most taxes accordingly.
Empire State: 411 days from groundbreaking to opening IIRC.
Twin Towers: Still in the 'design stage' after nearly 6 years.
L
Try 50 years.
Too bad. We have to rebuild Mexico’s infrastructure first.
How can that be? The Swimmer would NEVER allow non-union work; he would insist on ONLY the "highest skilled, qualtiy workmanship" by Union partisans.
/sarc
Sounds like the next step might be a “toll bridge”
77,000 structurally deficient bridges in the US.
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