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orwell

(7,769 posts)

16. This is exactly right...

Reply to Mopar151 (Reply #12)

Fri Apr 6, 2012, 11:58 AM

Apr 2012

...all new infrastructure projects, whether roads, power plants, water systems, are built without regard to long term maintenance. I read a very disturbing study about this just the other day.

In essence, if long term maintenance/replacement costs were figured in to these large projects they would never get built. Taxes would have to be raised exponentially to support them. The scam is that politicians can book short term tax base increases without the long term tax rate increases to support the total cost of ownership.

This is what drove the post war suburban expansion that is now blowing up in our faces. To use a popular term - it is an unfunded mandate that can not be paid.

Here is the article:

http://www.strongtowns.org/the-growth-ponzi-scheme/

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29 replies

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Highlight:

Why Does U.S. Build Roads If It Can’t Pay to Fix Them? [View all] xchrom Apr 2012 OP

wars, to justfiy an unjustifably huge military, are much more important KG Apr 2012 #1

That's federal money. Only local governments know where potholes are. dkf Apr 2012 #3

military welfare parasites suck up money that could stay at the local level nt msongs Apr 2012 #20

Ie the Federal Government sucks up taxes crowding out local taxes? dkf Apr 2012 #21

Roads? The rich don't need no roads RC Apr 2012 #2

Is this really what you think? Everything bad or unsatisfactory is because of rich people? dkf Apr 2012 #6

????????? hobbit709 Apr 2012 #14

To encourage consumption: cars, tires, gas, oil, and the like... KansDem Apr 2012 #4

Part of it is that new roads are seen as good things. MineralMan Apr 2012 #5

Can't pay or won't pay liberal N proud Apr 2012 #7

like i say -- the country is far from broke -- so i vote -- it won't pay. nt xchrom Apr 2012 #8

U said it before I could. New roads enrich a private constr company - repairs are done by the state. Nay Apr 2012 #10

Frankly, this is a ridiculous argument. Indydem Apr 2012 #23

Illinois is the only state that I know that is rebuilding its roads liberal N proud Apr 2012 #24

I regularly drive from IN to WI Indydem Apr 2012 #25

I drove I80 this week and do regularly liberal N proud Apr 2012 #26

It's kind of like the way Democrats chase conservative voters and ignore or disparage liberals. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #9

... xchrom Apr 2012 #11

Its VERY simple Mopar151 Apr 2012 #12

+1 whoawhat Apr 2012 #13

This is exactly right... orwell Apr 2012 #16

I could post volumes on this topic tularetom Apr 2012 #17

As usual, follow the money.. russspeakeasy Apr 2012 #15

I have yet to see any state where the DOT is not a sinkhole of Egalitarian Thug Apr 2012 #18

Well: Xyzse Apr 2012 #19

In reply to your post, and 1 above it Mopar151 Apr 2012 #27

Congress is waiting until we can find a way to outsource the work to China Zalatix Apr 2012 #22

Woulda' Shoulda' Coulda' cbrer Apr 2012 #28

It doesn't. US built roads in the past when they still used to make stuff to be transported Fool Count Apr 2012 #29