Tax Cuts for Rich Means Asphalt Roads return to Gravel

[jeffrockit]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn’t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror – while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

But, but, but those wars are keeping us "safe".

The Republicans feel if we can rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, they could make lot's of money, oops, I mean, it would keep us safe.

Don't forget the thousands of street lights turned off all across the country.

Hawaii now has a 4 day school week. When will the rest of the country follow?

Fire fighters and police being laid off all across the country. Do we still get 911 (eeeep, this is a recording).

But hey, look at all the rich people who get to keep their money. They know this country is falling apart. That's why they are moving jobs overseas where they can pay people 293 dollars a month to work 7 days a week for 10 hours a day.

This is all part of the Republican economic plan.

The war in Afghanistan where Obama increased the troops? Remember during the campaign Obama stated "Afghanistan, not Iraq, should be focus"
Obama: Afghanistan, not Iraq, should be focus - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com

With that in mind, it is not just the Repubs that have accountability in the war effort. These are not partisan wars as many Democrats voted in favor when Bush was in office. The politicians love it when you make one side the bad guys and the the other good as they are both BAD. It allows the other side to continue with their failed policies that have this country in the shape that it is in.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn’t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror – while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

I must have missed the memo.

The federal government is not responsible for local or state highways. If your state is having trouble paving the roads I suggest you talk to the governor and whatever your state does that passes for government. The money for roads is supposed to come from gas taxes and fees on vehicles, not taxing the rich in other states.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn’t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror – while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

But, but, but those wars are keeping us "safe".

The Republicans feel if we can rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, they could make lot's of money, oops, I mean, it would keep us safe.

Don't forget the thousands of street lights turned off all across the country.

Hawaii now has a 4 day school week. When will the rest of the country follow?

Fire fighters and police being laid off all across the country. Do we still get 911 (eeeep, this is a recording).

But hey, look at all the rich people who get to keep their money. They know this country is falling apart. That's why they are moving jobs overseas where they can pay people 293 dollars a month to work 7 days a week for 10 hours a day.

This is all part of the Republican economic plan.

As is typical of you, you are confusing federal and state issues. The state of California has enough problems with its own school system without paying for Hawaii's problems. If Hawaii needs more money for their schools I suggest they raise their state taxes instead of expecting other states to pay for Obama's lack of support for his home state.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

You could also say that high compensation for government workers is also the cause of roads being torn up.

If they have enough money to pay union wages and pension to tear up the roads, they probably have enough money to pay non union workers to go out and actually pave the roads.

 

[rdean]

Let me list the talking points in order of importance the Republicans have for "rebuilding" America:

1.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Let me list the talking points in order of importance the Republicans have for "rebuilding" America:

1.

Let me list the talking points rdean has about any subject.

1. Only 6% of scientist who are part of a internet poll of a liberal political organization self identify as Republicans.
2. When in doubt blame Republicans

 

[Moon]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn’t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror – while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House, so they can pretty much pass whatever tax increase legislation they please. I guess the question is why aren't they?

 

[KissMy]

Maybe it's the high cost of oil used to make asphalt that makes the roads un-affordable.

Maybe all the urban sprawl is why roads cost to much to maintain.

"No road we built in Texas paid for itself"

 

[Rozman]

We went from blame Bush to tax cuts for the rich.
Which is still a blame Bushism....

I have seen everything under the sun blamed on the so called tax cuts for the rich.

The rich are now being blamed for....

The housing crisis.
High unemployment.
High medical costs.
Record number of people on food stamps.
High cost of energy.
Roads and bridges collapsing.
Problems with education.
Layoffs of teachers firefighters Police.
Long lines at the checkout at the supermarket
Toilet paper not being as soft as it used to be.
One pound containers of coffee only 13.5 oz's.....

On and on it goes....

 

[Trajan]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn’t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror – while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

these states apparently cannot manage their transportation budget , funded mostly by DMV fees/charges etc. hello.

Jennifer Granholm, dem. gov. of Michigan for 8 years ( 2002-2010)....and?


in a touch of the surreal shes now "teach[ing] interdisciplinary courses on energy, leadership, state budgets and the economy at UC Berkeley’s schools of law, business and public policy" classes at Berkeley....yup, you to can be taught how to help run your state into insolvency too, just sign up for her courses.

or the online class- its short and sweet- Boooooooooooosh did it......

 

[Wiseacre]

Here's what I want to know: if we're so damn smart why can't we build roads that don't get potholes and bridges that don't fall down?

 

[American Horse]

Tax Cuts For the RIch Means Asphalt Roads Return to Gravel | B12 Solipsism

If the knuckle-draggers in Washington1 hadn&#8217;t pissed away gazillions of dollars fighting three2 concurrent wars &#8211; Iraq, Afghanistan, and the so-called War on Terror &#8211; while simultaneously reducing the taxes for the wealthy individuals and corporations, perhaps places like North Dakota and Michigan would be able to keep their highways and roads paved.

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls. <more>

The thrust of the link and your thread are a farce. Virtually 100% of funding for roads and highways comes from gasoline excise taxes, both federal and state. Each county gets a share based on the miles of roads within each county of each state. Bridges have a separate funding mechanism.

Not now nor anytime in the past have general tax revenues funded roads. If there are shortages it's because state govt has failed to increase excise taxes, not because of wealthy taxpayers, but because they believe that doing so would be unpopular with the average purchaser of gasoline.

I saw this same farce posted as a thread two years ago on an Irish forum board with no higher purpose than to show the backwardness of America; now that bullshit has arrived here.

No doubt many counties have miles of roads, not all of which are cost justifiable. My own county about twenty miles square has about 800 miles of roads not state or US roads for a population of 100,000. There are a few miles of roads, that because of poor drainage and seasonal frost heave combined with plowing action, which are not through" or connecting, and for the few residents they actually serve should not continue to consume maintenance dollars for the relatively little benefit to public good.

They should revert to a more cost effective maintenance program because they serve few citizens at too high a cost. They are the local equivalent of "The bridge to nowhere, except they are "the road to nowhere."

 

[daveman]

thank you for your replies and responses,
allow yourself to view this matter from a
social perspective rather than from a personal
perhaps read the posted emails again and
research so statistics and projections,

so many people around the world and in particular
throughout whole of asia live now in mega cities of
between 9 - 18 million inhabitance,

the world does not consist of uninhabited deserts
of middle usa where men are free to ride for days
shooting bisons to survive, allow it to be said the
popular and published and perpetuated mind sets
about social dynamics and economics are outdated,

at times so very badly that us citizens should not
be surprised about the dismayed and enraged reactions
from many states and nations from around the world,
the wild west image is history,

the ethics which is the dictate
for daily routines in the USA
in so many subtle ways and
which can be summed up by
'the winner takes all,
the losers are left to fall
and all agree such down & outs
need to be left to rot on their own'

such simply does not wash anymore,

what is so difficult to understand
about the above proposal?,
it is a matter
for each and for everyone to find the
strength and the determination to
think this through more thoroughly,

these proposals will be welcomed by
millions for the benefit of the whole
society - or does your mind doubt even that,

these proposals are NOT going to undermine the
flexibility nor the vibrancy of the corporate sectors
nor of industries, nor of businesses nor of the trades
in cataclysmic ways as the popular disaster movies
over decades have conditioned so many to think,
the government employees would feel upset if some
would doubt their professionalism and integrity,

there are regions across the USA where the populations
can not generate economic growth in spectacular ways,
but the social truth and medical facts are that these
populations need proper health care, need a minimum of
financial security - or is such a notion not acceptable -
once adopted sensible these policies will give a legitimate
security and stability to whole communities, regions, etc.
allowing for a more wide spread social peace and calm,
or is such a goal, such an achievement not registering at all,

the plain, simple, down to earth fact is that the strongest
European economies have developed a very sophisticated,
a well funded, a well taxed and ALSO a well paid workforce
and would you believe it – they live it, there are happy with it
because the needs and the common sense and human financial
requirements are better met than for example in the USA,
where the corporate sector seems to have the upper hand,
where public ethics is completely absorbed and hypnotised
by the rights and demands of the executives stratas and where,
in comparison, the little men and women do not really count,

why do the various US universities and indeed the
US government not arrange for national states and for
EU government officials to visit the USA and to give
many talks across the prairies and indeed in the many cities
on the European social survival model which allow millions
to live in greater social and financial peace than any US media
has ever talked about, please, please, please, understand to the
Europeans the social model and practices so drummed by the
US establishment, are, well, rather carefree and indifferent,
the point is, the US society can develop a more fairer ethics,
because a more caring social ethics, not having a nationwide
health care provisions for all citizens conveys so much to the
European mindsets that it is better not to elaborate otherwise
the growing sense of shame across the USA would flood
too severely, please, move on and grow into a sense of social justice,
the US establishment so far seems to believe and to want to drum only
the ethics of personal justice for the individual, please try, you can do it,

many have shown that a greater social justice and financial fairness and care
can be realized, established and sustained over many decades and nobody needs
to fear that their business instincts so focused to create new opportunities and new wealth will be undermined, please invite the European governments to elaborate,

igor zupnik
11 aug 2010

No.

 

[daveman]

We went from blame Bush to tax cuts for the rich.
Which is still a blame Bushism....

I have seen everything under the sun blamed on the so called tax cuts for the rich.

The rich are now being blamed for....

The housing crisis.
High unemployment.
High medical costs.
Record number of people on food stamps.
High cost of energy.
Roads and bridges collapsing.
Problems with education.
Layoffs of teachers firefighters Police.
Long lines at the checkout at the supermarket
Toilet paper not being as soft as it used to be.
One pound containers of coffee only 13.5 oz's.....

On and on it goes....

The rich drank all my beer.