How Do We Stop American Bridges From Falling?
Well, there were some interesting questions posed to the republicans last night and some not so interesting because they’ve been asked over and over again. Anyways, this YouTube doctor asked the candidates what they would do about fixing the infrastructure in this country that needs to be repaired. You know, like that bridge in Minneapolis needed before it went crashing into the river.
This doctor states that the estimate to repair our vast infrastructure is $2 trillion dollars. I thought this was a great question because people complain a lot about taxes and how tax dollars get wasted. And yes, Washington wastes loads of it! But regardless of anyone’s opinion, the biggest key to taxes is that people pay for things that we need that won’t otherwise get paid for. Of course, we could make every single bridge a toll bridge or have someone stand around collecting for its repairs.
6 Comments
I think the libertarian view on this is that they would want private companies manning the roads (or is that the conservative view? I know those words mean different things in the US than they do in Canada), although it seems to me that would cause such a logistical nightmare with competing companies that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend how it would work.
TT- It’s complicated, libertarians are kinda like the old conservative movement. Meaning they want our government to truly stop spending less (and invading our personal lives less). From a fiscal point of view, the Bush administration has been extremely liberal with its defense spending (and blowing our budget). This is the new republican party. And the new republican party very much so wants to interfere in your private life.
As for the bridges, probably no bid contracts.
I actually find it fascinating; I’m taking an American history course this year specifically so that I can understand where these ideologies come from and how they were developed.
So, if old time conservatives want less government and less spending, what is the difference between an old conservative and a classical liberal?
Yeah that’s why I hate the way these labels are carelessly flung around these days. In Australia, liberals are conservatives and the equivalent of American democrats is the labor party.
Good question. I quickly looked that up and “classical liberals” are associated with libertarians. All these political labels are as murky as African drinking water.
Yeah, classical liberals are usually associated with libertarians, but at the same time it’s a bit weird. Ron Paul is by far the most libertarian presidential candidate at the moment and he’s a self-described conservative.
Man, I just gave myself a headache, lol.
Justin-Yeah don’t think about this stuff too much! It will most definitely make you ill if you do, hehe.
I have a degree in history and minor in political science. I go through phases but at the moment I’m not taking this shit very seriously, this is a big farce and should be treated as such!