"Investing in the future" translated
Mark Steyn parses the "investing in our future" concept:
"America 'invests' a lot in roads. It has more highway signs than almost any other country: not just mile markers but fifth-of-a-mile markers; not just 'Stop' signs, but four-way 'Stop' signs, and 'Stop Sign Ahead' signs, and one day soon 'Stop Sign Ahead Sign Ahead' signs. America also has the worst automobile fatality rate in the developed world, in part because there’s so much fascinating reading material on the shoulder. Our automobile fatality rate is three times that of the Netherlands, about the same as Albania’s, down at 62 in the global rankings, just ahead of Tajikistan and Papua New Guinea. But don’t worry, if we ever do become 'a nation of potholes,' you can bet there’ll be federally mandated 'Pothole Ahead' signs in front of each one."
I would add that we have come to believe (or been convinced) that this is real investment. Problem? Issue an official warning, put brain in park.
We recently had contractors in our town rushing to turn as many sidewalk corners as possible into wheelchair accessible slopes because their was a federal grant to pay for the project. The real need, of course, is for paving of streets. Ask that question and the response is: "The grant doesn't pay for that."
Read on.
"America 'invests' a lot in roads. It has more highway signs than almost any other country: not just mile markers but fifth-of-a-mile markers; not just 'Stop' signs, but four-way 'Stop' signs, and 'Stop Sign Ahead' signs, and one day soon 'Stop Sign Ahead Sign Ahead' signs. America also has the worst automobile fatality rate in the developed world, in part because there’s so much fascinating reading material on the shoulder. Our automobile fatality rate is three times that of the Netherlands, about the same as Albania’s, down at 62 in the global rankings, just ahead of Tajikistan and Papua New Guinea. But don’t worry, if we ever do become 'a nation of potholes,' you can bet there’ll be federally mandated 'Pothole Ahead' signs in front of each one."
I would add that we have come to believe (or been convinced) that this is real investment. Problem? Issue an official warning, put brain in park.
We recently had contractors in our town rushing to turn as many sidewalk corners as possible into wheelchair accessible slopes because their was a federal grant to pay for the project. The real need, of course, is for paving of streets. Ask that question and the response is: "The grant doesn't pay for that."
Read on.
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