Spies Hack U.S. Electrical Grid...Where's That Stimulus Money?

News about our electrical grid today is a bit on the disturbing side. According to the Wall Street Journal, cyber-spies have hacked into our national grid and mapped it out. They also left software programs behind that could disrupt our power supply in time of war or just to create chaos (possibly starting a war in such a way). Basically, this isn't good.

From The WSJ:

The espionage appeared pervasive across the U.S. and doesn't target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official. "There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official said, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."

Many of the intrusions were detected not by the companies in charge of the infrastructure but by U.S. intelligence agencies, officials said. Intelligence officials worry about cyber attackers taking control of electrical facilities, a nuclear power plant or financial networks via the Internet.

So what do we do about this potential crisis? Well, instead of just spending a few billion here and there as band aids for the system, we need to completely revamp how the U.S. does energy. Barack Obama talked about a new grid that relies on alternative sources and is soundly and safely connected. It isn't solely about cyber hackers either, the system we have now is old, outdated and full of holes. Being on the east coast for the blackout six years ago, the evidence showing just how bad the way we're wired is glaring to say the least. And as a bonus, building clean energy plants and constructing a grid that fully utilizes the power will create an incredible amount of jobs and reduce our dependence on dirty coal.

So Many Stimulus Programs, So Little Direction

While Republicans have trouble understanding that a stimulus includes spending, Democrats in New York are trying to figure out what needs to get done as there is a whole list of projects that are ready to get under way. By the latest count, there are 1,900 separate infrastructure or infrastructure-related "shovel-ready" items that have been requested by various officials from Buffalo to Albany and Watertown to Long Island. The question though, is how does it all get done once Obama signs the bill?

From The Ithaca Journal:

State lawmakers and watchdog groups said they have gotten little indication from Paterson's office on how the billions in federal aid for infrastructure projects would be prioritized and which areas of the state would benefit the most.

"The comptroller's office and the governor should design a way to monitor the spending," said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group. "The last thing we want this to be is about pork and not about stimulus."

Horner said New York needs to develop a transparent system to avoid the stimulus money becoming a "lobbyist feeding frenzy."

Erin Duggan, a Paterson spokeswoman, said the governor plans to announce the process for distributing the money later this week, after the U.S. Senate acts on the bill.

I certainly hope he does. Knowing how things operate (or don't operate) in New York, a lot of that money can easily be mismanaged or simply disappear. Of course, after watching the TARP funds disappear, I don't necessarily trust Congress to watch the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act money either. Somehow though, there has to be a transparent system to watch these funds so that jobs are actually created and infrastructure built and not just mountains of empty rhetoric.

M.T.A. To Get Busy On Fulton St. With Fed Stimulus

Congress and Barack Obama have tentatively found $819 billion dollars to spread around to start the economy moving again. I'd prefer a higher percentage of it to be going to infrastructure than the tax breaks that were meant to appease Republicans but alas, that is another story altogether. Anyway, New York got a nice chunk of that money and subsequently, so did the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Out of the $1.5 billion or so dedicated to them, Elliot Sander and friends have decided to spend a third of it to finish the Fulton St. transit hub.

From The NY Times:

The additional financing would allow the authority to move ahead with plans to erect an architecturally dramatic glass building atop the transit hub, said Elliot G. Sander, the authority’s executive director. However, it was not clear if the final design would include the project’s signature feature, a conelike skylight, known as an oculus, that would channel daylight into the lower areas of the station. Mr. Sander said the oculus could add about $40 million to the cost.

“The pavilion has to be many things to many people,” Mr. Sander said, referring to the glass structure. “It has to be a building of vibrant design with as much new retail activity as possible.” He called it “a highly visible portal to a modern transportation complex.”

Mr. Sander, who spoke at a State Assembly hearing in Lower Manhattan, said that he estimated the authority would receive $1.5 billion to $2 billion from the economic stimulus bill that is working its way through Congress. He said he planned to spend $497 million of that to complete the downtown transit hub. He did not say how the remainder would be spent.

Well it sounds nice that the M.T.A. can actually go ahead and finish the hub but doesn't Mr. Sander think that there are other projects that are just a little more pressing than a giant glass dome? I know, it'll look nice and fill in the giant hole down there created by the demolishment of several long-standing buildings. I get that argument.

I also get the argument that the Lexington line is ridiculously overcrowded (especially since I ride it) and that the never-ending saga that is the Second Avenue line is just a little more important. The money for that is about to run out and this is the perfect opportunity to ensure that at least Phase I can be completed. Aesthetics are important to the downtown folk and the millions that pass through the hub down there but they can manage without for now. It would be much better and make a lot more sense for the M.T.A. to finish the underground portion of it and opens Phase I of the T line to ease the overcrowding on the Lexington line.

Obama's Team Comments On The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan

There is so much to do and much of it has to start as soon as possible. Thankfully Obama has a team that knows what needs to be done. Infrastructure means so many different things to our country in the 21st century. Whether it be replacing pipes and roads or building mass transit and broadband networks, our country has to prioritize these items and get this policy out into the real world.

A Not So Merry Christmas In Tennessee

I am blessed enough in my life that I can fly down to warm, sunny Florida and spend time with my girlfriend and her parents for this holiday season. At least so far, I do not have to deal with any calamities, either natural or man-made. However, up in Tennessee, a dam broke just two days ago near the town of Harriman and damaged several homes. Luckily no one was seriously injured or killed.

From The Huffington Post:

HARRIMAN, Tenn. — An earthen dam holding back a retention pond broke early Monday at a power plant run by the nation's largest public utility, releasing a frigid mix of water, ash and mud that damaged 12 homes and put hundreds of acres of rural land under water.

The 40-acre pond was used by the Tennessee Valley Authority to hold a slurry of ash generated by the coal-burning Kingston Steam Plant in Harriman, about 50 miles west of Knoxville, said TVA spokesman Gil Francis. The dam gave way just before 1 a.m, burying a road and railroad tracks leading to the plant under several feet of dark gray mud.

So far the blame has been put on heavy rain and cold temperatures. I'm not an engineer, but I simply do not buy that. Dams that are built to hold the waste of a coal power plant should be able to withstand changes in the weather. I'm glad that the Tennessee Valley Authority is going to check up on the other fifty-something year old dams in the area, but a better investment is needed in these structures that have so much potential destructive energy in them. Or else next time we might not be as lucky with injuries or fatalities.

Our Infrastructure Continues To Crumble, Now In Maryland

Last year we saw an antiquated steam pipe kill one woman and injure many others in Midtown Manhattan, as well as the collapse of an Interstate bridge that claimed the lives of several in Minneapolis. Every single day millions of gallons of water are lost on their way from upstate NY to New York City because the aqueducts leak. How many of these events do we need to witness until we finally address our crumbling infrastructure?

Well obviously we haven't had enough, because down in Bethesda, Maryland this morning, a break in an old 33" water main caused a street to instantly turn into a raging river:

Paterson Readies His Infrastructure Wish List For Obama

Not too long ago Barack Obama told the nation he is ready to get a stimulus package going that focuses on our country's infrastructure. As he said, the governors know what projects could get going right away where jobs can be created within a few weeks. New York needed to get on that boat, and our own Governor Paterson has a list he hopefully checked twice.

From The Poughkeepsie Journal:

WASHINGTON - From a $14.6 million resurfacing project on Route 252 in Henrietta, Monroe County, to $75 million in interchange improvements adjacent to LaGuardia Airport, New York has $300 million in ready-to-go highway and bridge projects around the state that Congress is likely to include in an economic stimulus package next month.

And of course infrastructure means a lot more than just roads and bridges. Wastewater facilities are on there too, anything that helps things "go" counts. And then there's the projects that help people move and stay healthy:

Paterson and other state officials say the state is in dire need of federal money not only for infrastructure but also for Medicaid health services for the poor in order to prevent massive cuts in state services stemming from the state's huge budget deficit.

We have a giant budget hole to fix here in New York and a nice chunk of it could be taken care of by President Obama and the incoming Congress. Then if the Governor could move take care of those painful budget cuts by putting more burden on the rich....well, that's not an idea likely to come from him. Though that doesn't mean he and the Legislature will be pushed to consider it

Getting NY $$ For Infrastructure Depends On Us

The budget deficit is out of control, certain Senate Dems extorted the caucus for sweetheart deals and New York politics is just as screwed up as usual. Yet, not all is lost in the Empire State, as long as a few key pols (like Governor Paterson) shape up and get Obama to give us some dough from his proposed economic stimulus package. A little hard work can go a long way in getting us many different infrastructure improvements and the jobs and increased commercial activity that can come from it.

From The NY Daily News:

Billions of dollars are being dangled in front of big cities in the form of President-elect Barack Obama's proposed public works stimulus. A queue has already started forming - as Philadelphia, Phoenix, Atlanta, Connecticut and North Carolina have dusted off plans with ready-to-go projects.

Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg must act now to ensure that New York doesn't miss the boat - or the train, or the bus.

The cornerstone of Obama's infrastructure plans: the creation of a bipartisan supported National Infrastructure Bank funded by the federal government to the tune of $60 billion over 10 years. The bank is likely to require any project seeking more than $75 million in federal support to submit a proposal to the bank - a proposal that would include the contribution to be made by state and local governments, user fees and a plan for maintenance.

To position New York at the head of the line - and get the money and jobs we need and deserve - the mayor and governor should anticipate the structure to be followed by the bank. That means getting already-designed projects in the queue. In addition, start designing much-needed transportation facilities so that we are poised for early submission - a formula successfully followed by Robert Moses.

I'm no fan of what Robert Moses did, but the way he got it done was impressive to say the least. If Paterson could do for mass transit what Moses did for the suburbanization of downstate New York, oh what a happy day that would be. Obama is making it easy for urban centers to get in on the opportunity. Though if we don't push our city and state leaders to go up to the door and knock, then we'll end up watching California and other places in envy as they build such things as high speed and inter-city rail projects.

Helping Main Street, Multiple Streets At A Time

The one thing missing from the national debate on reinvigorating the economy has been help for Main Street. Financial service proponents have thought that helping Wall Street trickles down to benefit Main Street but that is clearly not how it works. Finally we have a plan formulating in the Democratic ranks to bring a real stimulus to those that truly need it.

From Yahoo News:

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, told ABC television he will put together an economic stimulus bill when Congress returns to Washington after the November 4 elections, while a key Republican said he would support an effort that "makes sense."

Rep. Roy Blunt, the Missouri Republican who serves as House minority leader, said he would support a stimulus plan if it did not include massive public works spending and budget bailouts for states that overspent on health care and other social programs.

Frank, despite his failings in the bailout mess is on to something here. Blunt, on the other hand, represents the same old crap emanating from what is left of the GOP. After the elections, when we could see a 100 seat Democratic Majority in the House, he will have to change his thinking on the issue or else be rolled over in the process. Just like in the 1930s, a national agenda that addresses our infrastructure would do wonders for our economy and when adding in alternative energy to the mix, will create green jobs as well as improve the environment.

Robert Rubin clearly gets it:

Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, who served under President Bill Clinton, told CNN that an infrastructure plan that could quickly pump money into the economy was the most important action that U.S. authorities could take to help deal with the current economic crisis.

"I would put in place an infrastructure piece... bridges, water systems roads, highways, but not new projects that are going to take a long time to set up," Rubin said. "There are a lot of existing projects where states and cities are having a hard time finding a lot of financing where you could funnel that money right into existing activities where you would be able to act very very quickly."

That is great for the short-term, but we must add in projects that will truly make a difference for the future. For far too long, we have been thinking of nothing but what is directly in front of us. The policies that reinforce the failed ideas that got us where we are today need to be thrown to the wayside. Building an infrastructure system meant for the 21st century would be a good start and a great boost for our country.

Con Edison Admits Fault For Steam Pipe Explosion

The P.R. mavens at Con Ed might not shout their acceptance of accountability from the rooftops, but the deal they made regulators is pretty damn good. Last year's steam explosion near Grand Central killed one woman and injured many others, including a truck driver that was severely burned by the blast. For a while Con Ed tried to escape blame while penalizing businesses in the area, but after more than a year, they are singing a much more pleasant tune.

From The NY Daily News:

Con Edison has agreed to swallow almost $24 million in repair costs from last summer's devastating steam blast, as well as the extra $2 million a year it must now pay for liability insurance.

The utility also agreed to credit customers near the blast site at Lexington Ave. and 41st St. for utility bills they paid when they couldn't enter their buildings.

Regulators and a state consumer watchdog have signed onto the proposal, which would settle a state probe into whether Con Ed improperly operated its Manhattan steam network.

The deal "assures that the utility, rather than the ratepayer, pays for repairing the infrastructure, upgrading the system and addressing customer claims," said Mindy Bockstein, head of the state Consumer Protection Board. "The proposal represents the best deal we could have achieved for New York consumers."

The ratepayer has no business shelling more dough out for Con Ed's mistakes. Operating that steam system is like playing with fire and apparently safety was not the top concern immediately before that pipe tore the street open and damaged several buildings. The best solution is to shut it down, but when it comes to infrastructure in New York, or in this country for that matter, unfortunately that isn't of enough concern to the government. I wonder how many of these tragic events have to occur before they get it?

Talking About Iraqi Infrastructure, Hayes Is Clueless

During this exchange on CNN, Cafferty points out many different facts about the status of Iraq infrastructure. Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard seems to paint a picture that the infrastructure was "deplorable" before we invaded, despite the truth of the matter. Perhaps he's only concerned with the state of the oil rigs, since that is all Iraq is worth to people like Hayes.

An Anniversary Republicans Wish Not To Remember

In a little over a month from now, thousands of Republicans will gather in the beautiful city of Minneapolis-St. Paul. From the party faithful to the party elite to the wealthy backers, hob nobbing, networking and more mundane issues like party platform will be hammered out (still important though). They'll all have a great time and cheer themselves on, but one thing that would be surprising if mentioned would be the tragic anniversary that the city of Minneapolis is remembering today.

From The Politico:

It’s a year today since the Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people, but don’t expect Gov. Tim Pawlenty to showcase the reconstruction.

Indeed, with the Republican National Convention in St. Paul just a month away and Pawlenty reported to be high on John McCain’s running mate list, Republicans want to drive attention away from the infrastructure disaster that spotlighted the nation’s crumbling bridges and from the criticism the governor faced for what some critics said was a slow response.

The governor’s staff reports there are no plans to hold any events near the site of the bridge collapse, about 10 miles from the convention hall. And GOP convention planners have organized hundreds of buses to ease the congestion expected when some 45,000 conventioneers, guests and media commute to the hall.

Pawlenty claims the two aren't related, but to callously dismiss the connection is telling of a party that cares more about itself and less about the health of our nation. In fact, it goes straight to the core of why the Republican party needs to be walloped in this year's election. See, maintaining infrastructure takes money and a competent government that will fix and repair old bridges. Like one speaker or at least prominent attendee at the upcoming RNC once said, “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”

Dead governments can't fix our infrastructure....and don't think that privatizing every road, bridge and tunnel will do the trick either.

CBS Dedicates Time To National Infrastructure

As people woke up a few days ago and (possibly) turned on CBS' Early Show, they were treated to information on a growing crisis in our country. Tragedies that result from the lack of funding for our roads are covered sporadically and more reports must be done like this to show just how important maintaining our highways, bridges and especially developing a more comprehensive rail system.

From RawStory:

Unless more funding and effort are put into saving the nation’s infrastructure, it will continue to crumble, say experts. An estimated $1.5 trillion over the next five years could be needed to avoid large-scale disaster.

“When infrastructure declines, we’re going to become a second-rate country,” says engineer and former New York City transportation commissioner “Gridlock Sam” Schwartz.

“No matter where you live, there are critical infrastructure issues,” says David Mongan, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. “In some cities, bridges, roads, power lines, pipelines; are simply too old. In others, the explosive population growth has outpaced [their] infrastructure’s ability to satisfy the needs.”

Unfortunately we have left our government to mismanage the needs of our burgeoning society. We have enabled developers to build and build and build while the infrastructure to keep it all connected is laid to waste due to ignorance and negligence. We must demand our legislators to take care of these problems and not dole out projects as pork but as part of a comprehensive bill to fix and then maintain the arteries that have kept our country moving for decades. If we don't, dire consequences will result.

NYC Among Many That Needs Water Pipes Fixed

Across the country on a daily basis, some sort of water pipe problem is being fixed. The problem is that those repairs only scratch the surface of the reality that lies under our feet and the quality of the infrastructure that delivers untold billions of gallons of water to municipalities every year. Here in New York, far from the faucet in our offices and apartments, the Delaware Aqueduct carries water to us in a 13.5 foot diameter pipe. The problem with it though is that it is slowly disintegrating and causing problems for some upstate residents.

From RawStory:

Two hours north of New York City, a mile-long stream and a marsh the size of a football field have mysteriously formed along a country road. They are such a marvel that people come from miles around to drink the crystal-clear water, believing it is bubbling up from a hidden natural spring.

The truth is far less romantic: The water is coming from a cracked 70-year-old tunnel hundreds of feet below ground, scientists say.

The tunnel is leaking up to 36 million gallons a day as it carries drinking water from a reservoir to the big city. It is a powerful warning sign of a larger problem around the country: The infrastructure that delivers water to the nation's cities is badly aging and in need of repairs.

The Environmental Protection Agency says utilities will need to invest more than $277 billion over the next two decades on repairs and improvements to drinking water systems. Water industry engineers put the figure drastically higher, at about $480 billion.

That is a huge chunk of change and as the AP made mention, the cost will be dumped onto the ratepayers. Or at least that is what many different utilities told Colleen Long when she wrote the article. The piece continues to tell of the costs to many cities and the dire situations that occur when pipes ultimately fail. However, there is another way that is not mentioned.

Way back in the 1930s F.D.R. helped put people back to work and one of the agencies that did that was the WPA. If the government took a pro-active stance and copied Roosevelt in order to fix our utilities, we would be putting a lot of people to work and not making the public pay for it out of the own pockets. Instead of wasting money on useless fighting in Iraq, we could put some of that money to good use right here where we live.

Ron Paul Wouldn't Appreciate Bloomberg's Efforts

Our Mayor/potential candidate for President got together with Governor Ahhhhnuld and Governor Rendell to talk about infrastructure recently. Although their politics differ in many regards, apparently having good roads to drive on and rails to carry freight is something they all agree on. I wish that our current President cared, but we already know that he doesn't give a shit about anything. That goes for much of Congress and all of the Republican candidates for President, especially Ron Paul, who wants to do away with the IRS because, well, we survived as a nation before the income tax started in 1913. Um, Ronnie, you know you couldn't have driven across the U.S. at that point in time with any kind of speed or efficiency because there wasn't a national highway system at the time (funded by taxes in case you Paulites didn't know, roads just don't grow on trees). Ok, thats enough about Paul, its time to get down to business.

From The NY Times:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg attacked Washington politicians on Saturday for what he called short-sighted, politically motivated spending while the nation’s roads, bridges and airports fall apart.

“Infrastructure isn’t sexy or glamorous, and it doesn’t make for great headlines,” Mr. Bloomberg said in Los Angeles, “but it is one of the most important issues facing our country.

“And make no mistake about it, we have an infrastructure crisis.”

Joined by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, a Republican, and Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, the mayor announced the creation of a nonpartisan organization that will advocate for more, and smarter, federal spending on infrastructure.

The organization, Building America’s Future, will comprise elected officials and others, and it will be financed by the Rockefeller Foundation, a frequent collaborator with the mayor on pet projects.

Oh yeah, that asphalt is smokin! Of course it is even hotter to ride those rails. Thats where America's future should be built more and more.

Millions Of Gallons Wasted Everyday In NYC, Infrastructure To Blame

Public service announcements are bought and paid for to remind us to conserve water, but what is the point when the city itself wastes up to 35 million gallons a day. It would be like having almost every single New Yorker filling up a typical 5 gallon drum and pouring it out onto the street, every goddamn day. Due to our crumbling infrastructure, a pipe that delivers part of our water supply is quite a prolific leaker.

From AM New York:

The city Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the water supply, has been aware of the leaks since 1988, but hasn't yet made repairs and has not developed an emergency response plan to deal with a potential collapse of the tunnel, according to the audit released Wednesday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

The leaking tunnel supplies more than half of the 1.3 billion gallons of drinking water consumed each day in the city.

The report found that the city has spent more than $28 million on engineering consulting services since 1998, but failed to consistently follow the consultant's recommendations. In that time, water loss due to the leaks has increased from about 20 million gallons per day in 1992 to 35 million per day, the report said.

Seriously, WTF is going on here. They have known about this for nearly twenty years and haven't done anything but 'study' it. Our steam pipes are antiquated, our electrical grid is shot to hell and now we find that the pipes that carry fresh water to New York has a mile and a half long 'leak'. A dripping faucet with a bad washer constitutes a leak. An old roof over your head that requires a few pots and pans during a storm....that would be called a leak. Thirty-five million gallons a day? That would be the daily flow of a small river. The city and the state needs to get their act together.

Why New Yorkers Should Know What The AKRF Is

AKRF stands for the names Allee King Rosen & Fleming, but it means much more than a few surnames to the city of New York. AKRF has been consulted for many different projects around the area to certify environmental and historical sites to be developed or redeveloped. Their analyses are used for small projects like this one on Duffield Street in Brooklyn and large endeavors such as the reconstruction of the World Trade Center. So why is this important to anyone? Because their history is quite murky and there tends to be a lot of cold hard cash involved when they are involved.

From Duffield St.:

While New York City is suffering from an ailing electrical and sewer infrastructure, we are on a building boom. Somehow, it's the priority to build endless luxury highrises and not fix potholes. How is this done?

For all of the megaprojects going up, one firm is responsible for most of the environmental studies: AKRF. This blog focuses on the Duffield Street homes, and we are committed to examining the credibility of AKRF's historical analysis.

You may ask, Who cares if AKRF screws up a historical analysis? The problem is that "historical resources" fall under the scope of environmental analysis, just like air pollution and waste water. So if AKRF lacks credibility in its historical analysis of Duffield, this raises questions about its traffic analysis.

Duffield St also provides a giant list of shameful links about AKRF and the poor decisions they have made in the past. This post puts a spotlight on one relatively hidden cog in the beast that is the redevelopment of New York City and its historical integrity. Gentrification may seem inevitable, but if we can shine enough light on how the process works there just might be some hope for the people to have their say when it comes to the future of New York.

The &%^#@* MTA!

So if you live in New York City or read/watch/listen to the news, you'll know that we had some pretty severe weather early this morning. Heavy rain and gusty winds caused a lot of damage in the area and snarled traffic across the city. I had to get up to Lincoln Center from 28th and 2nd Ave, which usually consists of a walk across town and then hopping on the 1 train to 66th St. I walked on the dry but muggy streets to 7th Ave. only to find the trains completely stopped. The next hour was a major ordeal as I tried to take the C train from Penn Station (but that wasn't running either) only to have to walk over a mile to Lincoln Center because the buses were packed and empty cabs were nowhere to be found. To put it lightly, it was a miserable commute.

Why oh why must rain shut down mass transit in the biggest city in the country? Because the MTA does not adequately pump rainwater out of the tunnels. The current system simply cannot handle a lot of rain in a short amount of time. Basically, it comes back to infrastructure. If our system (among others) was properly funded, we would not have problems like this. Europe laughs at us when it comes to things like this.

Now Governor Spitzer is ordering a review of the currently crippled system. The trains are still off as of 2pm (I tried getting on the 6 train downtown at 59th, it wasn't happening) and commuters are furious. But Governor, there is no need for a review. We know what the problems are and they should have already been taken care of. A competent federal government would have ensured that the pumping system could handle any amount of water. Electricity for trains above ground should be properly installed so that no amount of bad weather could affect them.

But no, there is no funding, all the money goes to Iraq, and to the weapons that have 'mysteriously' disappeared and found their way into the hands of insurgents that kill civilians and our troops. Our government would rather have the country languish and structurally fall part than give up any number of billions of dollars spent on the war machine.

Kristol Could Care Less About America

America runs on top of the strength of our infrastructure. Commerce would grind to a halt without properly maintained roads (as it did last week in Minneapolis). Extreme weather would kill thousands more every year if it wasn't for electricity (and steam here in NYC) that remained on to power homes. Levees protect large cities from floods and other natural disasters (except for in Louisiana). Are you starting to catch my drift here? Thats why ridiculous comments from neo-cons like William Kristol tend to piss me off. He thinks there is no problem.

From RawStory:

Fox News political contributor Bill Kristol, appearing on the August 5 broadcast of Fox News Sunday, made comments minimizing the significance of a bridge collapse in Minnesota last week. At least five people were killed and 100 injured when the bridge collapsed Wednesday.

"I don't think this symbolizes any great failure of our infrastructure," said Kristol. "Once every twenty five years some bridge falls down unexpectedly due to engineering problems and it is unfortunate obviously but the idea that the whole country is crumbling is not, I think, credible."

The callousness is disgusting. Of course for Billy, there are more important things to spend our nation's money (and its debt) on, like illegal wars and whatnot.

Minnesotans Are Mad

It has been three days since the disaster in Minneapolis. The impact of the I-35 bridge collapse was felt all over the country and the world, but not even close to how it hurts up in the Twin Cities. Much like New York City after September 11th, everyone feels pain for the victims. Yet when you lose a family member, a friend, a co-worker or anyone that you know personally due to the negligence of your government, sadness is going to be compounded by anger and a demand for accountability. Already, the anger levels are going up and according to Nick Coleman at the Star Tribune, its not a partisan issue.

From The Star-Tribune:

Both political parties have tried to govern on the cheap, and both have dithered and dallied and spent public wealth on stadiums while scrimping on the basics.

How ironic is it that tonight's scheduled groundbreaking for a new Twins ballpark has been postponed? Even the stadium barkers realize it is in poor taste to celebrate the spending of half a billion on ballparks when your bridges are falling down. Perhaps this is a sign of shame. If so, it is welcome. Shame is overdue.

At the federal level, the parsimony is worse, and so is the negligence. A trillion spent in Iraq, while schools crumble, there aren't enough cops on the street and bridges decay while our leaders cross their fingers and ignore the rising chances of disaster.

And now, one has fallen, to our great sorrow, and people died losing a gamble they didn't even know they had taken. They believed someone was guarding the bridge.

What a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided. Our government has been neglecting the essentials that keep our society going. It makes you think about the times of the Roman Empire, when Romans were given games instead. Well that empire fell, and the structure that fell and killed several people this week is tragically symbolic.