Fix Bridges - Some Wall HappyWesty: I was against the Wall for the longest time until a fellow I know in San Diego told me that before they built the current barrier at the US - Mexico border at Tijuana residents would wake up with illegals sleeping in their backyards. After the barrier went up this was cut WAY down in numbers. Barriers are an answer to the problem but lets look at one that is even more important. Some 47,000 bridges are in need of repair or outright replacement in the US. You and I pass over them without even knowing that they need renovation. In the days of FDR he founded the old CCC which took men off of the streets, put them in labor camps, fed them, housed them and helped them learn a trade. It helped get the country moving again. Now public construction is mired in red tape but frankly its time to take men (and women) that are able bodied and can do construction and put them to work. I did some concrete work with a friend of mine and its hard labor but good for the soul. I am thinking that if instead of us just shaking our heads in wonder at the homeless plight and unemployment of veterans and others that can work if we should not look to revise the CCC and get those bridges fixed. The latest collpase of a bridge in Tennessee puts a spotlight on the plight of our nation's infrastructure. Its sad to see these bridges left to go until they fall down with possible death as the outcome. I urge everyone to contact their Congressperson and Governors and let them know that you are highly concerned about the bridge problem. Let them know that the homeless plight in part could be solved as it was in the 1930s but putting able bodied persons back to work. If anything it would give a homeless or unemployed veteran a job and make them feel like they are contributing to the forward progress of our nation!  (I am NOT for a full Wall along our border but feel that some construction is needed ...) (Edited by HappyWesty) The giant midget: It's all easy to say "" fix the bridges "" I am self employed past 32 years in construction industry ( private sector) When bidding on a federal , state , or local government projects let say fixing bridges it's a very complicated corrupted process You need a consulting firm ( firm mostly owned by a politician friend ) You need a environmental assessment ( same as above ) You need a engineering firm ( same as above ) You need a architectural firm ( same as above ) You need a general contractor ( same as above ) Before any work begins ( Murphy's Law ) 75 % of the monies allocated for the project is gone into bribes, ( opps sorry , consulting fees. ) than to cut corners they hire illegal workers with no skills or domestic workers with very few skills Making things worse than they were before , welcome to the world of government projects Skilled labour is expensive Cheap labour isn't skilled Oh almost forgot They always over budget by millions Thanks to your generous tax dollars The giant midget: Oh that's why I responded to the post Whatever product or service sold to any government agency the price is inflated by 75 % of the regular everyday prices for Joe and Mary Public | Politics Chat Room 73 People Chatting Similar Conversations |
