Subprime Superpower
by Patrick J. Buchanan
There was a time when events like the collapse of that bridge over the Mississippi would have been taken in stride.
Yes, it was a tragedy, a mature nation would have said, but like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and bolts of lighting hitting folks on picnic grounds, these are "acts of God." Even in a good life and a great country, bad things happen.
But today, there has be someone to blame, someone to be held accountable, someone who could have prevented it, someone whose head must go on a pike. And it is the job of the journalist to give us the guilty. And the modern journalist relishes nothing more than standing before a TV camera passing moral judgment on failed mortals.
cont'd
21 comments:
first, while i agree with most of what mr. buchanan says here (and the crux of the article clearly has to do more with runaway spending than "blame"), but a bridge collapse is not comparable to a natural disaster.
the bridge collapse was avoidable.
i am not familiar with the history of that particular bridge, but i know from my personal and professional experience that there are literally hundreds of structurally unsound bridges in the US.
that doesn't mean they're going to fall down--it takes an unusual amount of stress for that to happen. but these bridges wouldn't be at risk if we properly maintained our infrastructure.
I'm sure we haven't properly maintained our infrastructure, but i don't think we need to raise taxes in order to do that.
So that's where i disagree with PJB. Politicians ARE to blame for this bridge collapse. In fact, isn't that one of the main things they're supposed to do? Isn't that the reason we give them our hard earned money?
So now they want more money to fix the bridges? I don't think so. How about we don't fund the opera? how about we cut back the size of government by eliminating the dept. of education? That budget has to be in the tens of billions and for what? since the carter admin. invented it have our children gotten a better education???? i don't think so.
I was under the impression that the bridge was currently being repaired, it was as much bad luck as it was neglect. Sadly these things happen.
But as Rhino pointed out it is the govt's job. Secure borders, and make sure bridges dont collapse pretty much.
Don Young gets a fucking private $20 mil bridgeto his retreat town population of 30? Well fuck that I want one to my local pub with a moving airportian walkway then, and so should everybody else.
And while libs are busy blaming Bush and conservatives are busy blaming the unions (it probably was), nothing gets accomplished but the fattening of political donors pockets through pork laden pet projects.
For starters maybe Congress should forego the planned $8,000,000.00 renovations they have planned for their private gymnasium until a more conclusive study can be conducted on government waste.
How about getting out of Iraq? That would save $2 billion a week.
Well gary, if we surrendered in Iraq that would indeed save us some money, but that wouldn't really fit the theme here. We're talking about NON essential spending. I know YOU think the war isn't important, but i'm sure you would agree that there are better ways to cut costs.
In fact, i was reading somewhere that if congress doesn't pass the new spending bills when they get back from vacation then the govt. will shut down and they will tell all non essential employees to stay home until a budget is passed and i'm thinking.....Why do we have "non essential" employees in our government? I don't want to pay anyone who's "non essential" so how about we send them home permanently?
You can say it Gary, we know you are thinking it... the bridge collapse was Bushs fault.
Not spending and saving are two entirely different things, so to assume a $2bil weekly windfall is to once again demonstrate just how little you know about just about everything.
I think a better start would be to cut all funding for any nation that votes against more than 50% of the time in the UN.
Non-essential employees? Congress would be empty as theyre all fricking useless.
As but one example, Congress has in recent years modernized their members only elevator systems, yet continue to employ unionized elevator operators so that our esteemed leaders dont have to suffer the indignation of pushing a button.
wouldn't it be indignity?
... probaly
The bridge collapse is Bush's fault. And Clintons. And every President and Congress over the last few decades that have ignored our deteriorating infrastructure. But most of all its Rhino's fault.
the question isn't so much of how much we spend on infrastructure, but where we spend it.
the federal govt spends billions of dollars on highways that don't need to be built, all in the name of the other white meat.
while we are talking about it ...
two of the most unfortunate things to happen to nyc (with regard to infrastructure spending) were:
1. the repeal of the commuter tax
2. the defeat of bloomgerg's 2040 plan ... congestion pricing in particular.
albany doesn't care about the city. therefore it is crumbling before our eyes.
foolish and short-sighted, that's all i can say.
rhino, who is going to pay for infrastructure improvements unless they are going to come from tax dollars? you want to drive your motorcycle on the BQE? i think not. it goes back to the "common goods" concept in economics. there are things that we all use as a society and therefore we must all pay for them. i have no problem with my tax dollars going to fix roads and bridges.
i don't like them going to destroy the infrastructure of another country.
but again, when, and if, the war is ever concluded, (select) american contractors will make a killing "rebuilding iraq" ... while our own infrastructure crumbles and falls apart.
Anita, of course our tax dollars should go towards fixing the roads. I said they don't have to RAISE our taxes in order to do it.
Maybe you weren't paying attention.
As to the bloomberg idiocy that you think is a good idea, i think you're a knucklehead!
How about we use the money they already collect more efficiently and improve the mass transit system to the point that people will CHOOSE to use it instead of driving their cars? Did you ever think of that? Mr. big business man bloomberg sure doesn't seem like one to me.
How about 1 nyc politician finds a way to build that 2nd ave. subway without raising taxes like they've been promising for 30 years????
A congestion tax is just another money grab. It won't stop the congestion it will just make NYC less attractive to business and more expensive for everyone.
If bloomberg had any balls he would cut the fat and get shit done without raising taxes, but that of course would be hard work and who wants that?????
the second avenue subway is already pretty well along in design, so not to worry. the problem has more to do with dealing with the homes, businesses, etc., that will be disrupted due to the construction. a potential logistical nightmare, one that slows things down but the second avenue subway is a reality at this time.
sorry, but the bloomberg plan is a little more than a money grab. it is anticipated that the population of nyc will increase by 1M between now and 2040. our infrastructure needs to be prepared to handle all of those additional people. if the subways and trains are packed, if the roads are falling apart, if the ancient gas lines keep exploding in the streets, neither the people, nor the business will come and if they do come they will leave.
it's all very much an investment in the future of the city. and yes, i believe it is right that taxes be increased to support this important work. how about we start with people like those who are buying condo's in the new richard meier building at grand army plaza in brooklyn. the taxes on those condos are almost nothing. particularly funny when the you have 2 bedroom apartments *in brooklyn* going for $2.5 million and up. talking about subsidizing the rich.
p.s. i'm not a knucklehead
Anita, i know donkey is going to go ballistic on that one so i'll just say this.
You're a commie!
rhino, regarding congestion pricing and modal choice, you have no fucking clue what you're talking about.
do you know how much money the private sector loses due to transportation inefficiencies? billions of dollars each year in the metro area! billions!
congestion pricing will be *better* for business because non-essential trips will be drastically reduced and more commuters would take transit.
regarding modal choice, please do some research before saying ignorant things like "make the buses better and more people will ride them." that's only true to a very small extent--people choose to drive for a number of related reasons, most of which have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the service provided. to put it simply, when commuters have a choice, they drive.
Anita with all due respect you are a knucklehead. What? I said with all due respect. You are a new homeowner, once again congrats hope youre getting settled, but if you were to hire landscapers and upon your return home you found a dung covered virgin mary and an all gay school on your front lawn would you give the landscapers a raise? Well thats what youre suggesting we do with America's employees aka politicians.
Screw that. I am not against raising taxes in theory if I thought my money was being spent wisely, but it is not.... so fuck em. Actually strike that I am 100% against raising taxes.
There is an enitre fleet of crimson vested "non-essential" employees in the MTA system. They dont make change, they cant sell metrocards they dont even know where Willets Point is they just sit there until they retire in twenty years at damn near full pay. Maybe as a start we can replace them with engineers, mechanics, inspectors etc and make them work regular hours for a regular career span like the common folk do.
If we keep allowing our politicians to give themselves pay raises 8 mil dollar gyms and more money to play with they will never learn fiscal responisbility. The whole fucking system is broke and its folks like you that want to reward them for failure (recurring liberal theme) that contribute most to the problem.
... and I am perplexed at how on one hand you want to stick it to the "rich" in Brooklyn and then on the other hand screw the "poor" via a congestion tax as I can assure you the number of sedans coming into the City will not drop but rather the small business owner and financially less inclined individual that will bear the brunt of the traffic tax.
Maybe we can tear down or tax all the ocean front property in Rockaways too as Im pretty sure they pay even less then next to nothing in taxes. Yeah thats right I said it, the poor dont deserve a view.
Con Ed sucks ass yes, but dont use that explosion as an excuse to shit on my City as it takes more than some hot air shut NYC down (but rain will do it) It sucks that people were killed and injured but in case you forget we are a tough lot. Youve gone soft on us already so soon in suburbia.
Donsky, i haven't done any research on congestion pricing but it really doesn't matter.
How much do you think you would have to charge to make most people take the dirty, hot, late, smelly, way overcrowded subway if they have the choice to use their cars?
It would have to be a crazy amount! People already pay a ridiculous amount of money to park their cars in the city, pay over 3 dollars for a gallon of gas! Yet the city still is congested!
Here's the point donsky, because i know you THINK you're really smart so i'm sure you'll understand this.
Lets say we start charging people more to drive in the city, who gets hurt? And more importantly what will be done with this windfall? Will the infrastructure be improved? Do you really believe that? Is Anita naive enough to believe that we are about to have a 2nd ave subway? Are you?
You may think you know something about city planning, but i KNOW about politicians and government so let me educate you.
It is a money grab! It won't solve ANY problems and in fact will only make NYC more expensive than it already is, and will in fact only hurt the poor people who have no choice but to drive because the subways that run through their hoods suck, and the buses are always late etc.
Wake up people. Increasing taxes is NEVER a good idea. NEVER!
rhino said:
i haven't done any research on congestion pricing but it really doesn't matter.
ha! why should i even bother reading the rest of your ignorant bloviating?
unlike you, i actually have done quite a bit of research into this topic.
congestion pricing serves to internalize costs of driving that are currently externalized, fixing a distortion in the market and making it more efficient.
from an economic point of view, it makes a whole lot of sense. productivity goes up, and people make more rational decisions in their commuting choices.
i know this is a futile request, but rhino, please don't venture into areas where you have no idea what you're talking about.
i know you THINK you know something about public policy, but you're talking out of your ass here.
i'm as cynical about government as anyone, but well-crafted policies can provide benefits to society.
Donsky, I could do a million hours of research and find that congestion prices (in theory) would be a great idea!! woo hoo. Just like the idea of increasing the federal tax on gas which would create a huge windfall that would ONLY be used to improve infrastructure!! Yeah man that's a great idea!!! I'm sure that would work!! i mean it's worked so well before hasn't it???? hasn't it????
Oh it hasn't?
You see you're NOT as cynical about government as anyone.
I have a better idea than congestion taxes, how about we re-craft the old well crafted public policies and we stop wasting money on SHIT, and use that money efficiently.
Call me crazy, but i believe in the old saying:
fool me once shame on you, fool me a billion times and waste all the tax dollars on some bullshit that's going to get you more votes or more campaign contributions instead of what you said you were going to spend it on, shame on me.
People who believe that government can create and follow through on "well crafted policies" are not cynics.
And THATS the problem.
I see a nail sticking out of some wood, I bring a hammer. Donksy, Gary, Anita and their ilk bring a research committee.
I am curious as to how all youse supporters feel about the means in which they plan to enforce said congestion tax?
You know its more big brother right??? 1000 more cameras minimum.
I have a plan, we need to start taxing terrorists in order sway liberals to our side because its pure bullshit that the same people crying for more govt surveillance to enforce a traffic tax are the same people that oppose eavesdropping on suspected alqaeda to protect out Country.
Frickin Idjits!!!
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