Is the Tea Party Plan for governing "Structurally Deficient" -- like over 10% of the Nation's Bridges ...
Structurally Deficient Bridges
NOTE: The structurally deficient rating is an early warning sign for engineers to use to prioritize funding and to initiate repairs or to begin the process to replace the bridge.
The rating applies to three main elements of a bridge:
1) the deck (riding surface);
2) the superstructure (main supporting element of the deck, usually beams, girders, trusses, etc.); and
3) the substructure (supports to hold up the superstructure and deck, usually abutments and piers).
These elements are rated on a scale from zero (closed to traffic) to nine (relatively new). If any of the three elements is rated as a four or less, the bridge is categorized as structurally deficient by federal standards. This does not mean that the bridge is unsafe. If a bridge becomes unsafe, it will be closed.
Jeesh those "elements" sound kind of important, don't they?
And it's starting to happen too. Bridges Closing. Talk to this guy who now has to "row to work" instead of drive.
America's Failing Infrastructure
CBS News
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CBS Video Clip
I wonder if Bridges washed away by epoch flooding, count as being Deficient, too?
Probably to the People, who used to use them!
That GOP-Tea-Party Plan for governing -- that vapor plan -- is about as "Structurally Deficient" as their plan for fixing the failing bridges, in their own local neighborhoods.
Maybe Virginians can put off "buying that new car" or "adding that new home addition" -- maybe they can divert those selfish funds, to fix one of their Local Bridges instead. Right Mr Cantor?
Richmond, VA -- Eric Cantor's District
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Structurally-deficient Bridges -- shown in Red
Ohioans won't mind postponing their public resource Repair Work, either, right John?
Dayton, OH -- John Boehner's District
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What about Kentucky, they're about as "rugged individualist" as it gets -- surely they wouldn't mind, finding alternate ways to get to work, right Mitch? They can just take the scenic route.
Louisville, KY -- Mitch McConnell's State
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Well, what on earth could go wrong if we put off those "Urgent Repairs", anyways?
"Nothing -- that the Free Market can't eventually fix" -- right GOP Privateers?
BTW, the bridge that "simply fell down" in Minnesota, killing 13, injuring dozens of others -- was rated "Structurally Deficient". Ooops! Sorry Minnesotans. There are 65,000 such bridges across the Nation, according to Chris Matthews.
THAT is the GOP Plan for America -- just let everything go to Hell in a Hand-basket. And then let their rich buddies, pick up the pieces later.
THAT is what refusing to Borrow Money or Raise Taxes will get you -- a serious structurally-deficient Quality of Life, in the long run -- for Average Americans.
Sometimes you just got to Fix Things, BEFORE they break. There's a lot less Carnage and Heartache that way. And funny, it's a LOT cheaper too -- that "preventative medicine" ... that "routine maintenance".
Stuff that's all TOO expensive for Americans to have -- according to the Republican world-view. Just let People "row to work", they'll get by. They're "rugged individualists" -- Nothing stops them.
Except for maybe, the lack of real Opportunities. Opportunities that their Free Market, has outsourced overseas, or has otherwise slashed and burned.
That's some Plan, GOP-Tea-Party Pirateers.
Just another Dismantle America Plan. At least, your Party is good at something, besides saying No.