Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Quote of the day... (Minnesota bridge collapse - updated)

Sowell: A Bridge Too Far GoneThomas Sowell is spot-on, as usual:
"The real problem is that the political incentives are to spend the taxpayers’ money on things that will enhance politicians’ chances of getting re-elected. There may be enough money available to maintain bridges and other infrastructure but that same money can have a bigger political pay-off if spent building something new instead of maintaining and repairing existing structures."
Thanks to the Patriot Post for the quote and photo source.

Update: More on the bridge congressional collapse from Sen. Tom Coburn:
...It is undeniable that official Washington has “taken its eye off the ball” with respect to bridge safety, and a host of other issues. Yet, the true structural flaw in our political system is not insufficient spending, but misplaced priorities.

No area better illustrates Congress’ misplaced priorities than pork-barrel spending. The Federal Highway Administration declared the bridge “structurally deficient” in 1990 and directly warned Minnesota officials. Yet, since 1990, Congress has show more devotion to pork-barrel spending than repair work. ...
Read it all.

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