It would seem infrastructure should be very high on the list of priorities. Not only is it a real danger to people and a real cost to the area when something fails but it also has a large impact on our ability to grow and be competitive in the future. The good old boys in Chicago and Illinois submitted a budget that has a three billion deficit and obviously their solution is to raise taxes. My property taxes are already the second highest in the nation, I don’t think there is much more they can suck out of people.
Shameful that all spare money is going into hands of the rich and powerful while letting roads and bridges crumble. Isn’t this what happened to the Roman empire?And taking money away from the needy and most vulnerable is also shameful.They are succeeding at killing off excess people. Lifespans are only increasing for the well off. The poorer the shorter lifespans are becoming.
The interstate highway system (a “defense” project actually, for transport in case of war) was the largest engineering and construction project in hisoty, both for employment, and economic gains for the nation. The problem is that Ike, a Republican, initiated it, and latter-day “Republicans” have time and again blocked funding (legislatively and admiinistratively) to maintain and/or upgrade the system.
Our gasoline and diesel is about the cheapest in the world, yet still folks scream at the thought of any increase in gas taxes to maintain our transportation system, and don’t bat an eye when oil companies raise prices a dollar a gallon in only a month’s time, when “driving season” hits.
If our gas cost $8+ a gallon as it does in most of the “first world” nations, we’d work toward conservation, and improving highways and rail, and the trains and cars that run on them.
I don’t mind paying for infrastructure.I DO mind when I pay, and the govt fritters the money away.We paid four times to fix the levees in NOLA. Look what happened…they didn’t fix them, the money disappeared, people drowned in Katrina. NO govt officials were punished for “misappropriation of funds or manslaughter”.
I’m not sure, but I know the PA turnpike collected a toll supposedly to “pay for and upkeep” the turnpike. The tolls keep rising, but the turnpike keeps deteriorating.
I’m sure my above examples can be cited in EVERY state.All the govts (local, state, federal ) collect and collect and COLLECT. But the infrastructure hasn’t been done in years. Q: Where’s the money go? A: NOT where it’s supposed to…general funding = lost accountability.
It is odd, isn’t it. We pay taxes to clean up the pollution they make while not paying their fair share of taxes. We might pay less tax if we decided to pay more for their taxed products though, as we’d have cleaner, more efficient consumer goods.
An element of road and bridge maintenance and repair that the Cons always seem to overlook is that, while the funds spent are public, the work is all done by private contractors. Governments do not actually build the roads. They pay industry to do it. That provides good jobs to actual people, who buy goods and services, and pay taxes, with their earnings. Infrastructure is not a welfare program. It is a jobs program. It just isn’t “sexy” like military hardware. But it’s far more beneficial and quite literally productive.
benbrilling almost 9 years ago
The one little problem with infrastructure is that it cannot survive continuously repeated tax cuts. (A lesson Republicans have yet to learn.)
Dtroutma almost 9 years ago
Another of not so benign neglect.
Carl Premium Member almost 9 years ago
They don’t maintan Metro either, why expect a difference?
William Bednar Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Well, come on, we just ran out of (your) money, decorating our offices to look like Downton Abbey. Clearly, higher taxes are called for.
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member almost 9 years ago
It would seem infrastructure should be very high on the list of priorities. Not only is it a real danger to people and a real cost to the area when something fails but it also has a large impact on our ability to grow and be competitive in the future. The good old boys in Chicago and Illinois submitted a budget that has a three billion deficit and obviously their solution is to raise taxes. My property taxes are already the second highest in the nation, I don’t think there is much more they can suck out of people.
lonecat almost 9 years ago
It’s Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D. C. You can google it. Toles does local cartoons now and again, mostly about the Metro.
pam Miner almost 9 years ago
Shameful that all spare money is going into hands of the rich and powerful while letting roads and bridges crumble. Isn’t this what happened to the Roman empire?And taking money away from the needy and most vulnerable is also shameful.They are succeeding at killing off excess people. Lifespans are only increasing for the well off. The poorer the shorter lifespans are becoming.
PainterArt Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Who needs a bridge when you have yachts and helicopters?
Dtroutma almost 9 years ago
The interstate highway system (a “defense” project actually, for transport in case of war) was the largest engineering and construction project in hisoty, both for employment, and economic gains for the nation. The problem is that Ike, a Republican, initiated it, and latter-day “Republicans” have time and again blocked funding (legislatively and admiinistratively) to maintain and/or upgrade the system.
Our gasoline and diesel is about the cheapest in the world, yet still folks scream at the thought of any increase in gas taxes to maintain our transportation system, and don’t bat an eye when oil companies raise prices a dollar a gallon in only a month’s time, when “driving season” hits.
If our gas cost $8+ a gallon as it does in most of the “first world” nations, we’d work toward conservation, and improving highways and rail, and the trains and cars that run on them.
noreenklose almost 9 years ago
I don’t mind paying for infrastructure.I DO mind when I pay, and the govt fritters the money away.We paid four times to fix the levees in NOLA. Look what happened…they didn’t fix them, the money disappeared, people drowned in Katrina. NO govt officials were punished for “misappropriation of funds or manslaughter”.
I’m not sure, but I know the PA turnpike collected a toll supposedly to “pay for and upkeep” the turnpike. The tolls keep rising, but the turnpike keeps deteriorating.
I’m sure my above examples can be cited in EVERY state.All the govts (local, state, federal ) collect and collect and COLLECT. But the infrastructure hasn’t been done in years. Q: Where’s the money go? A: NOT where it’s supposed to…general funding = lost accountability.
oneoldhat almost 9 years ago
but all that stim $$$ was going to take care of the infrastructure
OmqR-IV.0 almost 9 years ago
It is odd, isn’t it. We pay taxes to clean up the pollution they make while not paying their fair share of taxes. We might pay less tax if we decided to pay more for their taxed products though, as we’d have cleaner, more efficient consumer goods.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 9 years ago
An element of road and bridge maintenance and repair that the Cons always seem to overlook is that, while the funds spent are public, the work is all done by private contractors. Governments do not actually build the roads. They pay industry to do it. That provides good jobs to actual people, who buy goods and services, and pay taxes, with their earnings. Infrastructure is not a welfare program. It is a jobs program. It just isn’t “sexy” like military hardware. But it’s far more beneficial and quite literally productive.
oneoldhat almost 9 years ago
dear liver and 49 bho diverted it from shovel jobs to his banker buddies pockets