Roads to Ruin: Towns Rip Up the Pavement

[mediaman007]

Here's what happens when we give in to the Teabaggers:

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.

In Michigan, at least 38 of the 83 counties have converted some asphalt roads to gravel in recent years. Last year, South Dakota turned at least 100 miles of asphalt road surfaces to gravel. Counties in Alabama and Pennsylvania have begun downgrading asphalt roads to cheaper chip-and-seal road, also known as "poor man's pavement." Some counties in Ohio are simply letting roads erode to gravel.

The moves have angered some residents because of the choking dust and windshield-cracking stones that gravel roads can kick up, not to mention the jarring "washboard" effect of driving on rutted gravel.

But higher taxes for road maintenance are equally unpopular. In June, Stutsman County residents rejected a measure that would have generated more money for roads by increasing property and sales taxes.

more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704913304575370950363737746.html

[MrScorpio]

1. With their tax savings, maybe the teabaggers can build their own roads n/t

[mediaman007]

2. In that case, we'll soon be traveling on cow paths!

[WinkyDink]

23. All bearing to the right!

[Wilms]

3. A political ad waiting to happen. n/t

[aquart]

4. They thought good roads were free.

Please God may the cars of millionaires come to grief on these roads. But I doubt it.

[mediaman007]

5. Maybe this will cause the tax-dodging corporate businesses

to whine about American roads. In fact, bad roads might mean a growth in small business in rural towns.

[aquart]

8. Is this the law of unintended consequences?

The rebirth of small towns and local businesses?

[lpbk2713]

10. As long as there's a Wal-Mart

Don't expect the latter.

[aquart]

12. They've been known to abandon places.

[Cassandra]

6. Which is costlier...

on a per capita basis, road taxes or regular windshield replacement?

[MajorChode]

9. Not only that, strut, shock, tire, and suspension damage

Many states have been allowing roads to deteriorate for decades and the public winds up paying far more in vehicle repairs. It's completely counterproductive, but at least the fucknuts who are for lower taxes at all costs are placated.

[AnArmyVeteran]

7. I'd like to see huge semis driving on gravel roads

Ignorant tea baggers dont understand that roads are crucial to commerce. They say they love and worship business, but they will be cutting business' throats when things start costing a lot more because semis and other business vehicles are destroyed by running over gravel.

[depakid]

13. Come to Australia

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[aquart]

14. They do not grasp cause and effect.

[mediaman007]

15. Tea Baggers: "They know the price of everything, the value of nothing!"

[pipi_k]

19. Well, here's what went by my house when they were putting up

a cell tower at the bottom of the hill...

[tuckessee]

11. I bet Obama's Afghan War would pave a lot roads. n/t

[pipi_k]

16. In defense of gravel roads

in rural parts of the country, anyway...

I live on one.

Huge trucks go up and down the road all the time.

Oil trucks...big 20 foot box trucks...semi's loaded with vinyl siding or the parts for pre-fab homes, the gravel trucks themselves, SUVs and ATVs and pickup trucks. Even some regular cars, although that's not always a good idea out here in the hilltowns.

Chipped/broken windshields...I've lived here for over 14 years. Only had one chipped windshield and it happened out on the main (paved) road. Brake deterioration is a problem, but only because my house is at 1300 feet elevation.

Road maintenance is simple...after mud season (which comes at the spring melt) the road is graded, then a layer of gravel is laid down and we're good to go the rest of the year. A dirt/gravel road is less likely to suffer from heavy rain for some reason. More troublesome are the gravel roads that have been paved part of the way. The rain runs along in the gullies and undercuts the asphalt.

My little dirt/gravel road is often in much better shape than the paved roads closer to town that are crumbling, full of pot holes and frost heaves.

I don't see it as a "poor man's road" at all.

[Blue_Tires]

22. good insights...thanks

[Pathwalker]

17. Welcome to your future, America. Yes, Michigan is fucked, but

your part of the country will soon see our present. Towns are now disbanding their police and fire departments, as there is no tax money for them - either we're going the way of Bell, Ca. where the town leaders are flat out stealing the money, or we're going the way of the old Soviet Union. I'm not sure which. Maybe both. :shrug:

[yella_dawg]

18. We're doing that here.

Just lost several blocks of pavement last month in my neighborhood.

[rucky]

20. If everybody just paved the portion of road that extends from their driveways

we wouldn't need your dern soshulism!

[Gold Metal Flake]

21. "What this road needs is more tax cuts for the rich!"

Think you will see anyone post up a sign like that next to one of these devolved roads? If there are any Dems in the area, they should get some plywood and some paint and get busy.

[saigon68]

24. Pissing away $$$$$

[Gold Metal Flake]

25. No, no, that was money well spent.

Protecting our freedoms. Keeping Americans safe. Global war against terror. We haven't been hit since 9/11. Just frat-boy hazing. It's not torture. With us or against us. Watch what you say.

[saigon68]

26. A lot of it

http://costofwar.com/