The Terrorism of Neglect: Bridges Edition (w/poll)

Bush and Co have spent so much time scaring us about the possibility that terrorists might blow up bridges, and telling us how concerned they are for our "safety."  Yet the party that bragged that it would shrink the government until it drowns in the bathtub has diverted so much focus to the war in Iraq and the "global war on terror" that they have neglected every critical safety function of the government at home.  

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We saw how they ignored the Army Corps of Engineers and pleas from local officials warning that the levees in New Orleans were unsafe and needed reinforcement.

We saw how they cut mine safety funds resulting in mine workers's tragic deaths in mine collapses.

Now we learn in the wake of the Minneapolis bridge collapse that 17,000 bridges across the country have not gotten their required 2-year inspection.

The next men, women and children to fall to their deaths in a bridge collapse, likely will not die from an act of terror but of neglect, due to the politicization of fear and terror, and the demonization of the government that is there to protect the people.

•  tips, flames, cup o' mo-joe

  by zdefender on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:37:25 AM PDT

•  Infastructure

  The Republican neglect of infrastructure is far more dangerous than terrorist attacks but, like 40,000 auto deaths per year, it does not get the public attention of one terrorist plot.

  I hope the Republican convention coverage in Minneapolis includes a lot about a certain collapsed bridge to remind the public.

  Infrastructure should be a real campaign issue.

  by hilltopper on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:46:06 AM PDT

  •  yes, the Dem convention should feature

    (1) families of victims of bridge collapse
    (2) families of victims of mine collapse
    (3) families of victims of Katrina
    (4) families of victims of tainted food

    it should be a theme of the convention, "there is a role for government in regulating the market and protecting consumers"

    by zdefender on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:54:01 AM PDT

•  Fear Government , from neglect of Constitution nt

  by Abra Crabcakeya on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:50:35 AM PDT

  •  excellent!

    I wish this choice was on the poll. I picked food & drug inspections (even though I'm in MN and have driven the I-35 bridge many times) -- I don't drive on or under bridges every day, but I do eat every day (at least until I get my next heating bill....)

    MSNBC is running a segment about delayed bridge inspections right now.

    by rincewind on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 01:50:40 PM PDT

    •  Freeway system in bad shape here , too n/t

      by Abra Crabcakeya on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:41:36 PM PDT

•  How much bridge inspection and repair...

  will the amount they're spending on "tax rebates" pay for? I mean, if they're going to pull $150 billion out of their butts, they might as well spend it on something that will do some long-term good.

  by Cathy Willey on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:55:20 AM PDT

  •  yes, they could stimulate the economy by

    hiring more inspectors, even on a temporary basis.  For $150 billion, how many 1 year inspector contracts could they pay for?

    by zdefender on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 11:57:05 AM PDT