The collapse of the Minnesota bridge has raised issues in both the regional press and the national media concerning what we spend money on when we know something is wrong.
We know the bridge was rated “structurally deficient” in 2005. We know that a University of Minnesota engineering review found flaws in the structure in 2001. We know that Minnesota’s Governor Pawlenty vetoed a bill to repair bridges in the state because it would raise taxes. We know that Bush has rushed a National Transportation Safety Board member to the site and has (a good 12 hours after the collapse) made a statement… of course the most he had to offer was “thoughts and prayers” (if all the thoughts and prayers that Bush has offered to victims of so many events, from 9/11 to Katrina to this bridge, actually accomplished anything, think of what a great world this would be!)
We are spending billions to be in Iraq, a small percentage of which would be enough to fix the infrastructure throughout the US… and rebuild New Orleans. Of course, that money is being borrowed from our friends in China who will outright own the next couple of generations of American children.
So where is the money going to come from to do what we need to do? In order to preserve SCHIP, the children’s health subsidy, the Congress has proposed to tax tobacco. Bush has threatened to veto a new tax. In fact, any time a tax proposal comes into play to provide the support our civilization demands, the contemporary response of politicians is to scream bloody murder.
So we watch the rich get richer and the poor get poorer while the roads and buildings and bridges and railroads and parks and schools fall apart. But consider taxing ourselves… especially our richer selves… for the basic infrastructure of a healthy society? Hardly. Death before success!
Isn’t it time to make it clear to the politicians that cutting taxes is killing us? I am ready to support and cheer on the potential leaders who say it is time to bring back reasonable taxation for the things we need.
What other solution is possible?
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Construction flaws on infrastructure only happens in third-rated nations. Spending money on arms, rather than health care or Katrina victims.
(From an earlier post)
BRIDGE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT
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Federal investigators were on their way to probe the cause. Pawlenty said the bridge in central Minneapolis was among tens of thousands across the United States found ‘structurally deficient’ but said it had passed recent inspections.
POOR MARKS
Pawlenty said a U.S. Transportation Department report in 2005 designated the bridge as structurally deficient and likely in need of replacement. On a scale of zero to nine, with zero meaning ‘failed,’ the bridge’s superstructure was rated at four, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.
Pawlenty said the bridge had passed inspections in 2005 and 2006 and was not slated for replacement until 2020.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Too busy building those secret prison camps to spend money on interstate highway repair.
Eisenhower must be spinning in his grave.
the asce [american society of civil engineers] estimates that:
…$1.6 trillion is needed over a five-year period to bring the nation’s infrastructure to a good condition…
and that’s just to make it “good“…a “gentleman’s C”, if you will, something the chimperor knows a bit about.
they’ve been doing this analysis for many years, and submitting it to the administration and congress for review. as you can see from this chart, things have gone considerably downhill since 1988:
source: Report Cards for America’s Infrastructure: Grade Comparison
clik to enlarge
the problems are especially egregious in the areas of aviation, dams, and drinking water, an in addition to roads and bridges. the health and welfare issues impacted by drinking and waste water deficiencies are very likely to be much more pronounced and catastrophic than a bridge collapse…and l do not make light of that…in terms of impact.
no doubt, some enterprising congressman/woman will decide that hearings are required and these analyses and reports will be proffered as proof of neglect, to be followed by much huffing and puffing and a massive amount of pork barrel amendments and riders, without any acknowledgment of, or revision to the tax cuts that have undermined the fiscal future of the country. much easier to further reduce/raid the social security trust fund, or reduce poverty and health programs than the expect multi-million-billionaires to pay an equitable amount towards the infrastructure that facilitates the accumulation of their wealth.
and we will, again, return to business as usual.
lTMF’sA
sadly very sadly dada your analysis is no doubt exactly what will happen….not until possibly hundreds or thousands are killed from a bridge or dam collapsing or die or become severely disabled from poisoned water will something get done.