I just watched the NBC nightly news about the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. They mentioned that it would cost $65 billion to bring all the structurally deficient bridges in the US up to code. I am sure that many bridges in Ohio are not up to snuff, including some around Toledo.
I also read today that the Iraq war is now slated to cost one trillion dollars. "The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the war in Iraq could cost U.S. taxpayers more than $1 trillion, or at least double what has already been spent." http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008077978
Why are we pouring all this money into the sands of the Near East while our own country is crumbling around us? This is nuts. We have GOT to pressure the national government to turn its gaze from overseas to here at home.
Wow, 65 billion dollars is the amount I heard & read that our country spends on medical care for illegal Mexicans. Imagine.
you do a risk/benefit analysis, and decide what is most valuable. If the Hi-Level went down (it is over 70 years, I think, the maximum usable life according to some official from Texas) only the people on the bridge would be killed. Depending on the time of day (or night) it might a dozen or 300. But do we (as taxpayers) want to put this money into infrastructure, or just use the Veterans' Bridge further north.
...is required to survey the county bridges annually:
From his 2006 annual report he lists no bridges that are closed and none that are in critical condition (when opening the link, go to appendix G which was page 31 of 37...). There are 8 bridges scheduled for major rehabilitation and one that is under a reduced load - Stitt Road Bridge over Swan Creek, but the plans are complete for the work on that bridge - still awaiting funding...
(http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/engineer/2006AnnualReport.pdf)
Wow, 65 billion dollars is the amount I heard & read that our country spends on medical care for illegal Mexicans. Imagine.
It's only about 1/2 of what we spend a year in Iraq...Now imagine that.
BRING THE TROOPS HOME AND FIX THE BRIDGES.
if we were honest it would be "The Department of Offensive Operations". No nation ever survives by being "defensive" unless we are willing to "button up", and pull back. Even then there is no guarantee.
I guess we have to think like we do. But the rest of the world sees us for what we are. And I doubt we would survive any other way. We must involve ourselves in the world, and "kick ass". Hopefully, we have enough resources to deal with Iraq, and whatever happens next.
[rant alert]
Why can't we focus on the main things in this country instead of politicizing everything? Both their Republicrats and the Democans (practically the same party anymore) are busy pushing this little agendas here, and legacy building there.
Both parties get off your collective butts, cut the pork (out of the budget, not their butts), and get some things done for the country. After you do that the people will dedicate bridges and parks in your name, not before.
[/rant alert]
...that the function of the federal government is defense (justifying the money spent in Iraq) and that bridges are a responsibility of local/state governments...meaning that the comparison of costs isn't a good one...
of course, one could postulate that it's all tax money ...
it's about 11% of what is spent on the failing k-12 public education annually. imagine that.
I took this from another board-from a person who had used that bridge many times-and they make a good point. and PLEASE do not chide me for his smoker ban tie-in-I see where he was coming from, he just used that as an example of wastefulness.
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Since the bridge collapse (about ten miles from my house!) I've been thinking about all the ways the gov't finds to piss away our money while the infrastructure of the country (one of the few things they're actually SUPPOSED to take care of) crumbles around us.
The countless hours and dollars spent around the country debating and implementing smoking bans, among a host of other things, while our roads and sewers are disentegrating in front of our eyes.
Diverting billions into anti-smoking and other behavior control programs. Didn't Florida just pass a new amendment that dumps like, 20 million per year into a floundering anti-smoker program? And the antis still claim that it ain't near enough.
$20,000,000 would go a long ways towards fixin' up a few bridges....don't ya think?
If the gov't did only the things that the Constitution actually gives them the power to do, our taxes would be cut by 75% (at least) and the citizens, top to bottom, would be a whole helluva lot better off than we are now. The more they try to 'fix' stuff that ain't none of their dam business, the bigger the mess they make.
Yeah...the bridges are rotting from the inside out but thank God nobody's smoking in the bars!
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BRING THE TROOPS HOME-NOW!
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"They keep talking about drafting a constitution for Iraq.Why don't we give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, and we're not using it any more".
True. I have read that the Minnesota DOT had their funds cut by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Maybe that prevented the DOT from replacing the bridge even though they knew there was fatigue.
http://nookularoption.blogspot.com/