Why Andy's wrong

[Pete (Premo)]

So the rest of that thread doesn't get goobered up.

[quote=AndyMarquisLIVE;2830967]

There's a problem, however, when we're not even inspecting the nation's bridges.[quote]
Bridges are inspected and repaired on a schedule determined by the DOT so to say that is a total falsehood. As a matter of fact wasn't the MN bridge collapse caused in part because of ongoing maintenance at the time?

This, like with our need for foriegn oil, is something we can't afford to ignore. I don't know how much longer this will continue, and I have a feeling it won't get better if Shrillary or Obomba get elected because they're ready to force down a socialist agenda (healthcare).

True

I don't know if I've said it before, but I think the answer to the healthcare deal is to provide taxpayers an option to purchase health insurance through the state or through the Fed. Gooberment, but don't make everyone pay for it and don't make everyone have it.How is this supposed to work? Premiums will be on a graduated scale so some one's premium is going to be a. Subsidized by taxpayers or b. Subsidized by your premium, and those who are poor wont buy it at all so we are back to square 1. The government can't manufacture health care out of the blue, someone has to pay for it.

Our infrastructure is just one of the things we need to look at. We've got levees breaking all over the midwest right now, and all I hear about is "Iraq," "healthcare," , spend more money on AIDS, , free Sudan, , help the poor Africans, , help the poor Indonesians, .

You need to take a civics class on "public agenda". Those issues get addressed because someone yelled loud enough to get them moved up the "important shiat" list even if they are not important. That is the way it is/was and always will be. Until a bridge drops, a levee breaks or a tower falls you are hard pressed to get anyone to give a crap and when they do they want to squable over who is going to pay for it.

[MMDad]

Important point about the MN bridge collapse: it was caused by faulty design of the gusset plates. No amount of maintenance or funding could have prevented that.

[BuddyLee (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

You need to take a civics class on "public agenda". Those issues get addressed because someone yelled loud enough to get them moved up the "important shiat" list even if they are not important. That is the way it is/was and always will be. Until a bridge drops, a levee breaks or a tower falls you are hard pressed to get anyone to give a crap and when they do they want to squable over who is going to pay for it.

In short, what will get me elected?

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by MMDad

Important point about the MN bridge collapse: it was caused by faulty design of the gusset plates. No amount of maintenance or funding could have prevented that.

Wasn't the exessive weight of the materials and equipment for the maintenance going on at the time a contributer?

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

In short, what will get me elected?

You need to gain about 40 pounds. An MSNBC poll recently revealed that people view abnormally skinny people are viewed as "shifty".

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by Pete

Wasn't the exessive weight of the materials and equipment for the maintenance going on at the time a contributer?

The gusset plates were incorrectly spec'd. If they hadn't been, the bridge would still be standing. The construction materials were excessive for the plates used, but would not have been excessive if the bridge had been designed correctly.

Everything on the bridge at the time of collapse contributed to the collapse, including the materials, cars, and people. But the cause is still the gusset plate design.

[BuddyLee (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

You need to gain about 40 pounds. An MSNBC poll recently revealed that people view abnormally skinny people are viewed as "shifty".

I'll just convince the media to have myself viewed in the traditional FDR shoulder-up fashion. My Mick Jagger lips and new suave hair-do will do the trick.

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Late bridge inspections put public at risk - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (Okay, not a serious problem)

Feds let states delay bridge inspections - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (More serious than the last, but still not dire)

Ga. employee faked bridge inspections - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (oooopsies! Yep, I trust Georgia now )

Which states fell behind on bridge inspections? - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (D.C. is in 7th)

Okay, that covers the inspection phase folks. Now, out of the bridges that were actually inspected, here's what we know now.

Which states have bad bridges? - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (Don't have to search too deep to get to D.C., they're numero uno on this list)

Maryland's got a solid record, but 357 bridges in this state are structually deficent.

How msnbc.com studied bridge inspections - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com (Take a look at the wonderful bridge you race fans have to cross to go see NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing).

HARRY NICE MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Inspection schedule
last inspection May 2006
inspection schedule Every 12 months
Months Late as of '06 0
Condition
evaluation Better than present minimum criteria
status Functionally obsolete
General info
state Maryland
place n/a
county charles
road U.S. ROUTE 301
intersects potomac river
year built 1939
avg. daily traffic 12,273

How msnbc.com studied bridge inspections - Bridge inspections - MSNBC.com

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Originally Posted by Pete

You need to take a civics class on "public agenda". Those issues get addressed because someone yelled loud enough to get them moved up the "important shiat" list even if they are not important. That is the way it is/was and always will be. Until a bridge drops, a levee breaks or a tower falls you are hard pressed to get anyone to give a crap and when they do they want to squable over who is going to pay for it.

Minneapolis was not the first bridge collapse in U.S. history. Preventable, maybe. Maybe not.

But when engineers state most of these bridges were built 60-70 years ago, you have to update and maintain standards.

You're right, it will probably take another MAJOR disaster to get anyone hard pressed about anything. After Katrina, nobody was yelling about levees, everything was about New Orleans (even though another 120 miles of land were torn after the storm). Most of the people harping after Katrina were flaming leftists. I don't expect to see them harping about our infrastructure, because Dems and half of the Republican Party would rather spend our money helping the rest of the world.

It was an example of what problems exsist inside this country. Like I said, look at the top of the broken bridges listing.

[jetmonkey]

This is a map.