Republicans 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins To Cripple US Economy

[francoHFW]

The ideological blinders that have guided the Republican party since the Reagan administration are slowly but surely crippling our economy. One area where that is most evident is in our transportation infrastructure where the Republican refusal to consider any federal investment as valid has led to the deterioration of the very pathways that fuel our economy.

In one of its last acts of stupidity for 2017, the Trump administration has cancelled the agreement that the federal government had with the states of New York and New Jersey to not only restore the badly damaged rail tunnels between those two states but also build a new, third tunnel as well to relieve the congestion at that critical rail hub. The agreement meant that the federal government would split the cost of that project with the two states.

This is the second time an agreement to restore this important rail link and the busiest transit hub in the entire country has been sabotaged by Republicans. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed out of a similar project, saying the state could not afford it. Instead, he funneled the money saved into the state’s own dwindling transportation so he would not have to raise the state’s gas tax and position himself for a presidential run.

Amtrak estimates that the two existing tunnels have less than 15 years left before they totally breakdown and there is no guarantee that one or both of these salt-ravaged tunnels might fail earlier. It is estimated that if just one tunnel failed, it would slow rail traffic through the Northeast by 75% and create a regional economic crisis.

The truly sick part of all this is that, if Christie had gone ahead with the plan in 2010, there was a possibility that the new tunnel would be coming into service this year. Instead, it will be another decade before this restoration project will be completed, if at all. It is thought that this current cancellation may be yet another political ploy by Trump and the Republicans and that this will be folded into the so-far mythical Trump infrastructure plan in order to woo Democratic votes. But even that might be a tough sell if Trump’s plan is just another corporate giveaway in the form of public-private partnerships.

This isn’t the only major rail project that the Trump administration has kiboshed. In July, the federal government backed out of an agreement with the state of Maryland and the rail company CSX to raise the height of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore in order to allow double-stacked rail cars to easily access the Port of Baltimore. Double-stacked rail cars comprise over 75% of intermodal rail traffic in the country and this will only increase in the future. This will be especially true on the East Coast in both Baltimore and New York as shipping traffic from Asia increases with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

This refusal to recognize any valid investment by the federal government, which Republican have engaged in since the Reagan administration, has led to the slow but steady erosion of our transportation infrastructure, which was once the envy of the world. And that erosion will soon begin to cripple this country economically.

Republicans’ 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins to Cripple US Economy

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must save the bloated rich from paying their fair share. Who cares if the middle class and the country falls apart?

 

[PredFan]

The ideological blinders that have guided the Republican party since the Reagan administration are slowly but surely crippling our economy. One area where that is most evident is in our transportation infrastructure where the Republican refusal to consider any federal investment as valid has led to the deterioration of the very pathways that fuel our economy.

In one of its last acts of stupidity for 2017, the Trump administration has cancelled the agreement that the federal government had with the states of New York and New Jersey to not only restore the badly damaged rail tunnels between those two states but also build a new, third tunnel as well to relieve the congestion at that critical rail hub. The agreement meant that the federal government would split the cost of that project with the two states.

This is the second time an agreement to restore this important rail link and the busiest transit hub in the entire country has been sabotaged by Republicans. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed out of a similar project, saying the state could not afford it. Instead, he funneled the money saved into the state’s own dwindling transportation so he would not have to raise the state’s gas tax and position himself for a presidential run.

Amtrak estimates that the two existing tunnels have less than 15 years left before they totally breakdown and there is no guarantee that one or both of these salt-ravaged tunnels might fail earlier. It is estimated that if just one tunnel failed, it would slow rail traffic through the Northeast by 75% and create a regional economic crisis.

The truly sick part of all this is that, if Christie had gone ahead with the plan in 2010, there was a possibility that the new tunnel would be coming into service this year. Instead, it will be another decade before this restoration project will be completed, if at all. It is thought that this current cancellation may be yet another political ploy by Trump and the Republicans and that this will be folded into the so-far mythical Trump infrastructure plan in order to woo Democratic votes. But even that might be a tough sell if Trump’s plan is just another corporate giveaway in the form of public-private partnerships.

This isn’t the only major rail project that the Trump administration has kiboshed. In July, the federal government backed out of an agreement with the state of Maryland and the rail company CSX to raise the height of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore in order to allow double-stacked rail cars to easily access the Port of Baltimore. Double-stacked rail cars comprise over 75% of intermodal rail traffic in the country and this will only increase in the future. This will be especially true on the East Coast in both Baltimore and New York as shipping traffic from Asia increases with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

This refusal to recognize any valid investment by the federal government, which Republican have engaged in since the Reagan administration, has led to the slow but steady erosion of our transportation infrastructure, which was once the envy of the world. And that erosion will soon begin to cripple this country economically.

Republicans’ 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins to Cripple US Economy

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

 

[francoHFW]

The ideological blinders that have guided the Republican party since the Reagan administration are slowly but surely crippling our economy. One area where that is most evident is in our transportation infrastructure where the Republican refusal to consider any federal investment as valid has led to the deterioration of the very pathways that fuel our economy.

In one of its last acts of stupidity for 2017, the Trump administration has cancelled the agreement that the federal government had with the states of New York and New Jersey to not only restore the badly damaged rail tunnels between those two states but also build a new, third tunnel as well to relieve the congestion at that critical rail hub. The agreement meant that the federal government would split the cost of that project with the two states.

This is the second time an agreement to restore this important rail link and the busiest transit hub in the entire country has been sabotaged by Republicans. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed out of a similar project, saying the state could not afford it. Instead, he funneled the money saved into the state’s own dwindling transportation so he would not have to raise the state’s gas tax and position himself for a presidential run.

Amtrak estimates that the two existing tunnels have less than 15 years left before they totally breakdown and there is no guarantee that one or both of these salt-ravaged tunnels might fail earlier. It is estimated that if just one tunnel failed, it would slow rail traffic through the Northeast by 75% and create a regional economic crisis.

The truly sick part of all this is that, if Christie had gone ahead with the plan in 2010, there was a possibility that the new tunnel would be coming into service this year. Instead, it will be another decade before this restoration project will be completed, if at all. It is thought that this current cancellation may be yet another political ploy by Trump and the Republicans and that this will be folded into the so-far mythical Trump infrastructure plan in order to woo Democratic votes. But even that might be a tough sell if Trump’s plan is just another corporate giveaway in the form of public-private partnerships.

This isn’t the only major rail project that the Trump administration has kiboshed. In July, the federal government backed out of an agreement with the state of Maryland and the rail company CSX to raise the height of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore in order to allow double-stacked rail cars to easily access the Port of Baltimore. Double-stacked rail cars comprise over 75% of intermodal rail traffic in the country and this will only increase in the future. This will be especially true on the East Coast in both Baltimore and New York as shipping traffic from Asia increases with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

This refusal to recognize any valid investment by the federal government, which Republican have engaged in since the Reagan administration, has led to the slow but steady erosion of our transportation infrastructure, which was once the envy of the world. And that erosion will soon begin to cripple this country economically.

Republicans’ 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins to Cripple US Economy

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

 

[mudwhistle]

1) obama passed a stimulus package in 2009 focused on infrastructure. So unless Democrats lies and didn’t use it for infrastructure how can you claim infrastructure has been neglected for 40 years?

2) trump claims the next legislation is an infrastructure bill so will Democrats be helping to pass it?

Nope......the Democrats are running on a platform of impeachment....and nothing else.

 

[PredFan]

The ideological blinders that have guided the Republican party since the Reagan administration are slowly but surely crippling our economy. One area where that is most evident is in our transportation infrastructure where the Republican refusal to consider any federal investment as valid has led to the deterioration of the very pathways that fuel our economy.

In one of its last acts of stupidity for 2017, the Trump administration has cancelled the agreement that the federal government had with the states of New York and New Jersey to not only restore the badly damaged rail tunnels between those two states but also build a new, third tunnel as well to relieve the congestion at that critical rail hub. The agreement meant that the federal government would split the cost of that project with the two states.

This is the second time an agreement to restore this important rail link and the busiest transit hub in the entire country has been sabotaged by Republicans. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed out of a similar project, saying the state could not afford it. Instead, he funneled the money saved into the state’s own dwindling transportation so he would not have to raise the state’s gas tax and position himself for a presidential run.

Amtrak estimates that the two existing tunnels have less than 15 years left before they totally breakdown and there is no guarantee that one or both of these salt-ravaged tunnels might fail earlier. It is estimated that if just one tunnel failed, it would slow rail traffic through the Northeast by 75% and create a regional economic crisis.

The truly sick part of all this is that, if Christie had gone ahead with the plan in 2010, there was a possibility that the new tunnel would be coming into service this year. Instead, it will be another decade before this restoration project will be completed, if at all. It is thought that this current cancellation may be yet another political ploy by Trump and the Republicans and that this will be folded into the so-far mythical Trump infrastructure plan in order to woo Democratic votes. But even that might be a tough sell if Trump’s plan is just another corporate giveaway in the form of public-private partnerships.

This isn’t the only major rail project that the Trump administration has kiboshed. In July, the federal government backed out of an agreement with the state of Maryland and the rail company CSX to raise the height of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore in order to allow double-stacked rail cars to easily access the Port of Baltimore. Double-stacked rail cars comprise over 75% of intermodal rail traffic in the country and this will only increase in the future. This will be especially true on the East Coast in both Baltimore and New York as shipping traffic from Asia increases with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

This refusal to recognize any valid investment by the federal government, which Republican have engaged in since the Reagan administration, has led to the slow but steady erosion of our transportation infrastructure, which was once the envy of the world. And that erosion will soon begin to cripple this country economically.

Republicans’ 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins to Cripple US Economy

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

 

[Dragonlady]

As for the Republican Party? We elect moderates. We have done so for decades! It's the Democrats that elect people on the far left side of the political spectrum...yet you seem to think the GOP has gone "Alt/Right"?

The GOP has gone far right wing. In the 1960’s, Reagan was considered too far right wng to ever get elected. Today he’d be considered a RINO.

Republicans used to be pro-union, pro-working class, and pro rights for minorities. Today the GOP is virulently anti-union, anti worker, and anti civil rights for anyone but straight white males.

Segments of the GOP are so extreme right wing, they’re publically espousing Nazi, KKK and white supremacist slogans.

Bill Clinton won the Presidency by shifting the Democrats to the right so that the Democrats became the Moderate right. In response, the GOP moved further to the right into Tea Party territory.

It’s ridiculous when right wing clowns call out Democrats as “commies”. There isn’t a valid left wing party in the US, much less anything approaching communism. Both the Republicans and the Democrats are right wing, militaristic and pro business.

 

[francoHFW]

The ideological blinders that have guided the Republican party since the Reagan administration are slowly but surely crippling our economy. One area where that is most evident is in our transportation infrastructure where the Republican refusal to consider any federal investment as valid has led to the deterioration of the very pathways that fuel our economy.

In one of its last acts of stupidity for 2017, the Trump administration has cancelled the agreement that the federal government had with the states of New York and New Jersey to not only restore the badly damaged rail tunnels between those two states but also build a new, third tunnel as well to relieve the congestion at that critical rail hub. The agreement meant that the federal government would split the cost of that project with the two states.

This is the second time an agreement to restore this important rail link and the busiest transit hub in the entire country has been sabotaged by Republicans. In 2010, then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie backed out of a similar project, saying the state could not afford it. Instead, he funneled the money saved into the state’s own dwindling transportation so he would not have to raise the state’s gas tax and position himself for a presidential run.

Amtrak estimates that the two existing tunnels have less than 15 years left before they totally breakdown and there is no guarantee that one or both of these salt-ravaged tunnels might fail earlier. It is estimated that if just one tunnel failed, it would slow rail traffic through the Northeast by 75% and create a regional economic crisis.

The truly sick part of all this is that, if Christie had gone ahead with the plan in 2010, there was a possibility that the new tunnel would be coming into service this year. Instead, it will be another decade before this restoration project will be completed, if at all. It is thought that this current cancellation may be yet another political ploy by Trump and the Republicans and that this will be folded into the so-far mythical Trump infrastructure plan in order to woo Democratic votes. But even that might be a tough sell if Trump’s plan is just another corporate giveaway in the form of public-private partnerships.

This isn’t the only major rail project that the Trump administration has kiboshed. In July, the federal government backed out of an agreement with the state of Maryland and the rail company CSX to raise the height of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore in order to allow double-stacked rail cars to easily access the Port of Baltimore. Double-stacked rail cars comprise over 75% of intermodal rail traffic in the country and this will only increase in the future. This will be especially true on the East Coast in both Baltimore and New York as shipping traffic from Asia increases with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal.

This refusal to recognize any valid investment by the federal government, which Republican have engaged in since the Reagan administration, has led to the slow but steady erosion of our transportation infrastructure, which was once the envy of the world. And that erosion will soon begin to cripple this country economically.

Republicans’ 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins to Cripple US Economy

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

 

[PredFan]

So the GOP has been in charge for 40 years? How fucking stupid are you?

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

 

[francoHFW]

1) obama passed a stimulus package in 2009 focused on infrastructure. So unless Democrats lies and didn’t use it for infrastructure how can you claim infrastructure has been neglected for 40 years?

2) trump claims the next legislation is an infrastructure bill so will Democrats be helping to pass it?

Nope......the Democrats are running on a platform of impeachment....and nothing else.

BS, Rush or whatever propaganda Outlet. Democrats will cooperate on a good infrastructure bill. But so far Trump's plan sounds like a giant tax cut on giant corporations again...

 

[toobfreak]

Republicans 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure Begins To Cripple US Economy

Dear Skewed, what does your photo signify, that the GOP is responsible for snow? Let's say you're right and the Repubs did nothing for infrastructure for 40 years-- -- -- -- WHERE THE HELL WERE THE DEMOCRATS ALL THAT TIME? During 8 years of Obama and two years of Hillary, NOT ONCE did I ever hear them say we need to fix our infrastructure! Now here comes Trump. Guess that doesn't make him a very good republican.

 

[francoHFW]

Before Reagan the top tax rate was 70%, since Reagan 39% at most. He even left us with 28%... The GOP loves the status quo and have blocked everything to change it.

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and cut taxes on the rest, get a living wage, paid parental leave and, a big infrastructure jobs bill, healthcare for all, Training and cheap education 4 3to6 million technical jobs going begging, cheap daycare and all the other things all other modern countries have. Sorry you have no clue, dupe.

 

[francoHFW]

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and cut taxes on the rest, get a living wage, paid parental leave and, a big infrastructure jobs bill, healthcare for all, Training and cheap education 4 3to6 million technical jobs going begging, cheap daycare and all the other things all other modern countries have. Sorry you have no clue, dupe.

Tell us about all the constructive things the GOP wants lol!

 

[francoHFW]

As for the Republican Party? We elect moderates. We have done so for decades! It's the Democrats that elect people on the far left side of the political spectrum...yet you seem to think the GOP has gone "Alt/Right"?

The GOP has gone far right wing. In the 1960’s, Reagan was considered too far right wng to ever get elected. Today he’d be considered a RINO.

Republicans used to be pro-union, pro-working class, and pro rights for minorities. Today the GOP is virulently anti-union, anti worker, and anti civil rights for anyone but straight white males.

Segments of the GOP are so extreme right wing, they’re publically espousing Nazi, KKK and white supremacist slogans.

Bill Clinton won the Presidency by shifting the Democrats to the right so that the Democrats became the Moderate right. In response, the GOP moved further to the right into Tea Party territory.

It’s ridiculous when right wing clowns call out Democrats as “commies”. There isn’t a valid left wing party in the US, much less anything approaching communism. Both the Republicans and the Democrats are right wing, militaristic and pro business.

Just less so then the wacky new b*******GOP... We are Americans after all. But I would say the Democrats are pragmatic centrists. The new BS GOP is Off the Wall brainwashed with misinformation. They believe the rich pay too much in taxes LOL, and the Democrats are all evil and corrupt. They have a million BS scandals and character assassinations to prove it LOL.

 

[Avatar4321]

1) obama passed a stimulus package in 2009 focused on infrastructure. So unless Democrats lies and didn’t use it for infrastructure how can you claim infrastructure has been neglected for 40 years?

2) trump claims the next legislation is an infrastructure bill so will Democrats be helping to pass it?

Nope......the Democrats are running on a platform of impeachment....and nothing else.

I suspect as much as well and if so their defeat is a given. People aren’t prone to vote against those in power during a good economy. Having no real agenda makes it more difficult

 

[Avatar4321]

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and cut taxes on the rest, get a living wage, paid parental leave and, a big infrastructure jobs bill, healthcare for all, Training and cheap education 4 3to6 million technical jobs going begging, cheap daycare and all the other things all other modern countries have. Sorry you have no clue, dupe.

Which is why they are whining about the rich having to pay more taxes...

 

[PredFan]

Must suck to have your reading comprehension handicap.

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and cut taxes on the rest, get a living wage, paid parental leave and, a big infrastructure jobs bill, healthcare for all, Training and cheap education 4 3to6 million technical jobs going begging, cheap daycare and all the other things all other modern countries have. Sorry you have no clue, dupe.

Irrelevant nonsense from an illiterate moron. Learn to read idiot.

 

[PredFan]

Must suck to not have any arguments, GOP troll.

My argument was in my previous post which you are apparently unable to read.

The GOP bought off and brainwashed, has no plans to do anything constructive. All they care about is low taxes on the rich, so for 35 years now our taxes have been too low on the rich and the middle class in the country are slowly ruined and basically all the new wealth produce ends up with the wealthiest. Great job dupes.

I can’t argue with someone too stupid to understand anything. No wonder you are a lefty.

The Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and cut taxes on the rest, get a living wage, paid parental leave and, a big infrastructure jobs bill, healthcare for all, Training and cheap education 4 3to6 million technical jobs going begging, cheap daycare and all the other things all other modern countries have. Sorry you have no clue, dupe.

Tell us about all the constructive things the GOP wants lol!

Irrelevant, dumbass.

 

[Zander]

The OP is shovel ready......

 

[regent]

I am still overwhelmed by the infrastructure of the New Deal, and I bet much of it is still being used.

 

[easyt65]

"Republicans 40 Year Refusal To Invest In Infrastructure..."

Libs / snowflakes are such lying / hypocritical douche bags.... The Democrats had a near super majority control of Congress during Bush's last 2 years and Barry's 1st 2 years.

Nothing was stopping them from passing infrastructure legislation ...but nothing but crickets out there when you mention that.

Democrats were too busy arming Mexican Drug Cartels and passing a nearly $1 trillion failed non-jobs 'Jobs' bill that contained over 7,000 pieces of self- / DEMOCRAT-Serving Pork.

Democrats fill their own pockets and screw Americans when in charge then lament about the 'poor American people' when not in charge...