Feeling Safer Yet?
May 9th, 2008 at 10:33 am by Susie
Here’s your tax cuts, America!
America’s sewers are showing their age. Deteriorating pipes, overwhelmed by volumes of water they were never designed to carry, release billions of gallons of raw sewage into rivers and streams each year. The spills make people sick, threaten local drinking water and kill aquatic animals and plants.
AdvertisementHundreds of municipal sewer authorities have been fined for spills since 2003, according to a Gannett News Service analysis of EPA data. And dozens of local governments have agreed to spend billions modernizing failing wastewater systems over the next 10 to 20 years. Many of those projects will be financed by rate increases.
But the improvements can’t keep up with problems affecting the thousands of miles of sewer pipes snaking underground through each community. Foul-smelling waste gurgles from manholes and gushes down streams and rivers somewhere in the U.S. almost every day.
In March, between 700,000 and 1.3 million gallons of human feces and other waste spilled from a damaged pipe into Grand Lagoon at Panama City Beach, Fla. In January, about 20 million gallons of sewage flowed into Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill River after a 42-inch pipe ruptured near Reading, Pa.
You could also add the mercury seals at the POTW and the plethora of straight-to-the-river pipe from homes that line the riverbanks. There is the coal from Schuylkill County south, as well.
Reading is an old city with cisterns still in use. The POTW technology dates from the 1930s.
If one is interested in environmental technology, one has to read in the languages of Europe. Since Reagan, the US has left leadership to everyone else. Now the bill is due.
Susie; so why did you support Clinton’s gas tax holiday? Gas taxes fund road projects. Its an identical argument. How can you point out the folly of tax cuts while infrastructure crumbles while supporting a gas tax cut while highways crumble?
In the libertarian utopia everyone will have their own choice as to whether or not they want to sit and stew in their own pile of shit without any obnoxious government nanny statism getting in the way.
Clinton’s gas tax holiday had a tax on windfall gas profits to make up the revenue so that there would be no net revenue lost. As Krugman said, harmless.
harmless. political pandering of the most vile sort harmless. teaching american’s nothing is more important then tax cuts (thought that was a republican strategy) harmless. that krugman is so impartial. i just cant figure out which democrat he prefers.
political pandering of the most vile
Like this?
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/5/5/1694/63422
An example of harmful pandering.
votermom: I know you are but what am I?
So what have the politicians been doing with the taxes we have been paying for the last 50 years ? Why is this a problem all of sudden? Because the construction companies and labor unions want more work. That is why.
Another example is Gov. Rendell wanting to sell the turnpike- you think he will take the proceeds and fix all the infrastructure? If so , I have a bridge for sale.
Wendy: what’s your war costing us?
republicans like wendy whiner don’t grasp that taxes are the dues we pay to live in a functioning society. You want maintained roads and bridges? that costs money, aka taxes.
And yeah, how much is your war costing our kids, wendy-whiner?
and why the fuck are you commenting on a blog when you could be fighting for freedom?
Bob:
I am an American and if you are too, it is our war. It is all Americans’ war. Are you part of a family? Do you take all the good parts of that family and let other family members take the bad?
Brendan:
The other day I said you were fairly smart- I take that back if all you can regurgitate are talking points you cribbed at Mydd or an old rant from Susie on this blog.
Are you saying we have not been paying taxes all these years? Is that what you are suggesting or are you trying to say something else nimrod? What caused the Minnesota bridge collapse? Answer honestly please.
Bob, congrats on the winning my support for Obama thing. Really working so far.
the minnesota bridge collapsed because governor tim pawlenty (Republican) refused to adequately fund highways (tax breaks for the rich, of course). My friend Phoenix Woman is a resident and has written on the topic extensively. of course, since you’re a republican and her narrative won’t fit your pre-chosen narrative, you probably won’t believe her. I understand how “facts” are for you people.
i don’t read mydd, and as you surely know from my comments I don’t need Susie or anyone else to provide me with talking points. Funny how the minute I don’t agree with you, I’m no longer “fairly smart” and you descend to name-calling. That’s the tactic of someone who doesn’t have shit to back up her puerile argument.
I guess it’s hard to comprehend simple economics: when taxes are cut there is less revenue. When less revenue comes in, you can’t afford to maintain your roads, sewers, and other infrastructure that requires regular maintenance. So you put it off.
Are you saying we have not been paying taxes all these years?
A certain group of Americans hasn’t been paying their share for the past 7 years, cutting revenue out of the system. Furthermore, this administration has consistently cut budgets for domestic spending , including highway maintenance. Any idiot can research that themselves using the google.
If you had any critical thinking skills at all, outside of “what’s in it for me”, you wouldn’t be a republican.
votermom: clinton’s gas tax is proposed for this summer, right? Funded by a windfall tax, right?
So here’s a question? let’s pretend this gets through congress before Memorial Day. then it goes to the President’s desk.
That would be President Bush, former oil-man and friend of the oil industry. Do you honestly think that President Bush, former oil-man and friend of the oil industry is going to sign something funded by a windfall tax on his cronies?
Atrios is right:
if Clinton was calling for something like a major tax credit for people who buy hybrids, I would get behind that in an instant. And I totally support her call for a windfall tax.
But the gas holiday? Nope. Won’t help anyone but Exxon.
Brendan:
So up until 7 years ago everything was fine but the tax cuts for the rich (I’ll use your lingo) f’ed up everything and all the bridge workers, etc put down their shovels and stopped working? Is that what you are saying?
I was joking about your smarts. you are one of the few smart ones here except when the Kool Aid overpowers your brain.
I heard recently the Minnesota bridge collapsed due to a design flaw! not lack of maintenance. So you may have to check with your “expert”, she has been giving you bad data. I’ll try and find a link in the meantime.
Get back on my question in the first paragraph- did road and bridge workers just stop working 7 years ago afterall I thought road repairs were funded by a gasoline tax of 18 cents per gallon? Bushco did not touch that did they in the last 7 years?
“So up until 7 years ago everything was fine but the tax cuts for the rich (I’ll use your lingo) f’ed up everything and all the bridge workers, etc put down their shovels and stopped working? Is that what you are saying?”
I am not saying “everything was fine” but it was A DAMN SIGHT BETTER THAN IT IS NOW.
And yes: when there is no money to pay them or to pay for projects that employ them, “all the bridge workers, etc put down their shovels and stopped working”. That is usually how it works when funding is cut. Also, 2+2=4, and a triangle has three sides!
And now I’m done with you because you’re clearly an idiot. That’s not name-calling by the way: that’s simply an accurate description. Whine at me no more, wendy-whiner.
The National Transportation Safety Board has not released its final report as to why the bridge fell, but said a design flaw and construction weight are the leading theories.
votermom: So some anonymous guy leaves a comment you don’t like and in your mind that makes it ok to not support Obama. Wow. And btw - my snark did actually make a point. Let me explain as you appear not to have understood. A post on tax cuts/infrastructure problems elicits a response from me about the obvious corollary to the gas tax holiday/infrastructure problems. A few back and forth’s on the same theme. And then out of nowhere comes your “Oh yeah, well Obama panders too!” ahaa! gotcha moment. My snarky reply to that meant simply this: you are not addressing the issue being addressed nor are you defending Clinton’s actions: you are trying to change the subject. FWIW I agree with you on the coal issue. Obama is guilty as charged. But the Patriots cheat! Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to introduce an irrelevancy.
I’ve raised two kids and know that “but Cindy did something worse” gambit is common. The thing is I didn’t let my kids do it when they were 4 so you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t let an adult get away with it.
wendy: You are correct: it is “our” war. I’ll leave it at that. Now, should we stay there? What does it cost to stay? What do we gain by staying?
Brendan you write like an old codger “it is damn sight better than it is now”. You don’t really believe that do you? Can you prove it? Did highway spending drop precipitously in the last seven years? You can’t back your words and beliefs up. Can you?
Bob:
I don’t know - those decisions are above my pay grade. I do know that Bush was right to go to Iraq in the first place based on what they thought they knew at the time. Probably should not have posted that last sentence here. Oh well- the wrath of the nutroots upon me- I am strong - I can take it.
Funny, you’d think anyone living in the vicinity of Philly could actually see the decay of the infrastructure.
Wendy, it helps if you think of the five richest/ruling families from your county paying zero taxes. Yes, they provide work for their Guatemalan nannies, their Mexican landscapers, and the Argentinian chef. But they did not pay for the roads, the police, the courts, the POTW, and the list goes on. You’d be miffed if the five richest/ruling refused to pay local tax but somehow it’s proper if they refuse to pay federal. How much of the local richies wealth trickles down? It’s even less at the federal level. You’ve been had. Or you just dream of the day when you too can cheat on taxes.
Bush went to Iraq based on knowledge? Sorry. If you can read you would know that the intel was flawed. Nearly every friendly told us that Iraq had no WMD or access to the US. Even Russia spoke out. Georgie and the Chickenhawks wanted a war to bolster their non-existant manhoods. They all could have served in ‘Nam or volunteered to serve. How many did?
Mold:
I asked Brendan for facts to support the claim that infrastructure spending dropped precipitously in the last 7 years. He has not offered any.
You offered anecdotes but no facts or links about 5 wealthy Philly-area families? Your anecdotes drip with envy and jealousy- suggest you consider getting some ambition for yourself. If that is too capitalist for you, then get some counseling.
BC: Yup, your online campaigning for Obama is really helping him.
Close you eyes and pretend Obama doesn’t pander. That’ll work.
votermom: I’m not campaigning for Obama. And I never said Obama doesn’t pander: like our hostess, i believe all politicians pander.
What i did was answer, with specifics, exactly why Clinton’s gas tax proposal wouldn’t work. And I again I say anyone who thinks that President Bush is going to sign off on a windfall tax that not only hurts his oil company cronies, is hopeless deluded.
I’m sorry if reality doesn’t dovetail with what you wish were true, but hey keep digging: maybe you’ll find that pony someday.
BC: Your side believes in unity ponies. We’ll stick around, to clean up the shit.
cgeye: “Your side…” And just what side are you on? McCains? Or are you a “Give me what I want or I’ll take my ball and go home” Democrat? Grow the f**k up. Either you want to stop the madness of the last 8 years or you don’t.