Comments on: One year after collapse, no money to fix bridges

By: Don, WA

Don, WA — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:28:36 +0000

You see it every day – "if it aint broke don't fix it" – then your car breaks down in the middle of the desert and you did'nt even bring water.

By: GF, Los Angeles

GF, Los Angeles — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:48:11 +0000

We have 40% more revenue in the state of CA yet we're billions in the hole – someone(s) not being honest with where our money is going.

By: Annie Kate

Annie Kate — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:09:38 +0000

I can see where the federal government might fund repairs to our bridges, etc, but I would expect the majority of it to be done by the state. Our highways are done by the local county with help from the state. I agree that we need to get these things repaired or rebuilt soon but I'm not sure its the federal governments responsibility. Annie Kate Birmingham AL

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:07:49 +0000

Randi:

The federal government has cost shifted to the states what are called un-funded mandates. These require the states to raise the revenues needed to carry out the mandated programs. They can range from education to environmental to healthcare issues. I must assume that after paying for all these programs the states do not have the money in their budgets nor can they raise the revunues needed for decaying infastructure projects. The federal and state governments have to be able to work better, wiser and be more cost effective as we need to attend to this problem or else we will have more of these incidents happening.

Susan
Phoenixville,PA

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:18:30 +0000

@Ashley H That was an Alaskan Senator. The Governor of Alaska is a damsel in distress wanting ANWR drilling since Alaskans have the highest prices at the pumps.

By: NateSC

NateSC — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:12:37 +0000

Republicans have also wasted as much money if not more on frivolous(eg. IRAQ), so they wont help our country either only the oil companies. Of course we pay taxes our government while big companies pay none and oil companies get rich. So who really is to blame its been a long time since the incident and we got nothing.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:06:12 +0000

Apparently views about McCain's Congressional record won't be permitted on the blog either. Go check the record everyone.

By: Melissa, Los Angeles

Melissa, Los Angeles — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:52:55 +0000

We are taxed enough in this country. The problem is there's no accountability for the money collected much less ensuring the contractors that are hired are doing their job and not sold to someone else for a cheaper rate. Until our government takes control of their spending – this country will always be broke.

By: Jan from Wood Dale IL

Jan from Wood Dale IL — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:50:15 +0000

If our tax dollars pay the salaries of the members of Congress, maybe we should force them to all work for minimum wage. Then each state would get the difference between their current salaries and minimum wage of their Congressional members to make the necessary infrastructure repairs. Once a state completes upgrading their infrastructures, then their Congressional members can go back to receiving full salaries.

It's a balanced way of getting funds to each state, since each state has two senators and the number of House Representatives is based on the size of the state. It would keep members of Congress intune to the critical needs within their own states. And, after living on minimum wage for awhile, members of Congress would remember what it's like to have to balance their funds carefully.

By: Debbie - Missoula, MT

Debbie - Missoula, MT — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:43:33 +0000

I heard it cost $250 million to rebuild that bridge. Is that really how much is costs to build a bridge, or is it another example of a contract going to the buddy of a politician that is marked up 400%?

By: lampe

lampe — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:40:40 +0000

CLINTON\McCAIN supporters don't blog here. 360 doesn't let our views be heard. I made 5 different comments last night on the blog and not 1 of them made it. I guess if you don't say positive things about Obama, you can't say nothing at all. Let's see if this makes it.

By: Robert Wooller Bradford, UK

Robert Wooller Bradford, UK — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:34:07 +0000

This is awful but is just what I expected under the Bush administration. Don't worry, things will improve dramatically once Obama wins later this year.

By: JC- Los Angeles

JC- Los Angeles — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:16:25 +0000

Randi, it's disconcerting to think that last year's tragic Minneapolis bridge collapse would be a harbinger for the rest of our once proud nation.

Not only is our infrastructure past its prime but due to a massive lack of oversight, incompetent leadership, worthless politicians, corporate malfeasance and unfathomable mortgage fraud, our nation now teters on the brink.

Where are all the pundits now? I would suggest that every night you have a guest on CNN that has to explain his or her shoddy leadership.

Keep up the great work, your quality work speaks for itself; now if the others could only follow suit.

By: Victor in Saanich, B.C. Canada

Victor in Saanich, B.C. Canada — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:52:17 +0000

The US, with a DEBT approaching $10 TRILLION, can find the money to initiate military actions and space exploration yet can't renew it's infrastructure or provide health care to ALL it's citizens!! This 'lurching and leaking supertanker needs 'dry dock' and when 'put to sea' needs to be 'sailed in a different manner and direction' to say the least!!

By: Ashne

Ashne — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:50:51 +0000

It is sad that we are trying to build Iraq when we can’t rebuild America.

By: Kevin C., in Portland, Oregon

Kevin C., in Portland, Oregon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:40:22 +0000

I think it's interesting how there's an never-ending supply of money for the "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan, but when it comes to funding for something necessary within this country, this government has trouble finding even one dime. Billions and billions of our money has been WASTED in other countries. We take care of building Iraq's infrastructure while our bridges, highways, electrical grid, etc., are completely falling apart. I'm so glad this corporation that we call "government" is looking out for the citizens of the US. We've been conned.

By: Ashley H

Ashley H — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:23:44 +0000

No money to fix bridges?Thats pathetic,what about all the money we waste day in day out?If we still had the money it could have been used to fix the bridges, examples:Like the Alaskan governor, all that money he used to make the bridge to nowwhere, the Iraq war, ect.All that money wasted, could have been used to fix the bridges,unless we want another disaster,we better fix it, and fix it now.

By: Bev C Town of Tonawanda, NY

Bev C Town of Tonawanda, NY — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:17:13 +0000

We can "thank" W. and his political appointee cronies for the mess this country is in. How much effort does it take to fix a bridge?

By: seah Ohio

seah Ohio — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:17:10 +0000

The Democrats have spent money on frivolious things and their pet projects over the past few years. they only care about what they want.
It will get worse with the burden of social programs promised and more illegal immigranst being given a free ride.

The Democrats have proven what their priorities are with what they spent all the countries money on. People have watched them for years now. then they try to fluff it off and blame bush.

Do they Think all Americans are stupid??????????????????

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:06:51 +0000

As a first responder who saw the 35W bridge after it's collapse...I am all for spending the money. I think it is important to ensure our safety as citizens who cross these and take them for granted on a daily basis...