Infrastructure is hurting Pittsburgh (Liberty, Smithfield: house, unemployment, go bankrupt)

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Nowhere did I say that foreign aid is directly stopping a new New Deal, but to say that isn't a factor in a myriad of government spending that could be used at home is silly.

It's exactly what you said in #3.

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The only thing that would come close to solving the problem would be a new "New Deal". But that's not going to happen any time soon because countries like Isreal need billions in "aid".

I speak English very well. That said, I don't know what "Willy P" is and I'm afraid to google it because I'm at the office.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Just have to raise the gas tax. Considering the base cost of gas, raising it even 25 cents wouldn't be that noticeable.

I don't know why Gov. Corbett is so terrified of raising taxes. His approval numbers are already in the toilet, and those will probably further drop as he continues to speak out against same-sex marriage. Would I rather pay an extra $0.25/gallon of gasoline or die along with hundreds of others as the structurally-deficient Liberty Bridge collapses at rush-hour?

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

It's exactly what you said in #3.



I speak English very well. That said, I don't know what "Willy P" is and I'm afraid to google it because I'm at the office.

Nowhere does that quote say that foreign aid is directly stopping a New Deal. Grasping for straws isn't helping your case.

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I don't know why Gov. Corbett is so terrified of raising taxes. His approval numbers are already in the toilet, and those will probably further drop as he continues to speak out against same-sex marriage. Would I rather pay an extra $0.25/gallon of gasoline or die along with hundreds of others as the structurally-deficient Liberty Bridge collapses at rush-hour?

People don't want to see raises in taxes for obvious reasons. One of the reasons is that people would be more accepting of government trimming the fat to acquire more funds rather than citizens shelling out even more money to fund corruption. But as we know government is big business, and business is always booming. Cutting the bloat isn't in their agenda.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Just have to raise the gas tax. Considering the base cost of gas, raising it even 25 cents wouldn't be that noticeable.

In addition to fixing up the existing infrastructure...complete the Mon-Fay and even make it into a complete beltway. Pittsburgh has its colored pseudo-beltways but it could use a high speed one.

I agree, except about the Mon-Fay and the beltway (which are too expensive for what benefits they would provide). They could have set the tax so that it kicked in when the price of oil dropped, so the tax increase offset the dropping price of oil leaving the price of gas constant (at least until the price of oil rose again).

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

Nowhere does that quote say that foreign aid is directly stopping a New Deal. Grasping for straws isn't helping your case.

You should maybe look up "because" in the dictionary.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

People don't want to see raises in taxes for obvious reasons. One of the reasons is that people would be more accepting of government trimming the fat to acquire more funds rather than citizens shelling out even more money to fund corruption. But as we know government is big business, and business is always booming. Cutting the bloat isn't in their agenda.

Great. During this epic stalemate of "don't raise our taxes until more waste is cut" vs. "no more can be cut so we need to raise your taxes" a bridge will collapse. Those shocking images of dozens of vehicles tossed around like Matchbox cars in Downtown Minneapolis several years ago are still burned into my mind.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

You should maybe look up "because" in the dictionary.

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Great. During this epic stalemate of "don't raise our taxes until more waste is cut" vs. "no more can be cut so we need to raise your taxes" a bridge will collapse. Those shocking images of dozens of vehicles tossed around like Matchbox cars in Downtown Minneapolis several years ago are still burned into my mind.

You may be right, political division always gets in the way of progress. Unfortunately this time the old budget talks might involve some lives. If people knew they were driving over bridges built in the 20's they might have a different perspective, who knows.

[Moby Hick]

Sometimes people say things differently in their own head than they write out. Maybe that's what happened here? There is literally no other way to read those two sentences.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I don't know why Gov. Corbett is so terrified of raising taxes. His approval numbers are already in the toilet, and those will probably further drop as he continues to speak out against same-sex marriage. Would I rather pay an extra $0.25/gallon of gasoline or die along with hundreds of others as the structurally-deficient Liberty Bridge collapses at rush-hour?

I don't really like Corbett that much and think he has done a terrible job, but he has tried to increase the gas tax and repair the roads/infrastructure several times during his reign. He also proposed to raise the Oil Company Franchise tax, which is an indirect tax increase for consumers because it raises taxes for distributors so in turn they raise the price of gasoline in the state. In reality Corbett has raised taxes on natural gas by taxing the drillers and he has proposed raising the gasoline tax. It is kind of a sneaky way of doing things, because everybody pays more, but he didn't "raise taxes" on Pennsylvanians.

[pman]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Just have to raise the gas tax. Considering the base cost of gas, raising it even 25 cents wouldn't be that noticeable.

In addition to fixing up the existing infrastructure...complete the Mon-Fay and even make it into a complete beltway. Pittsburgh has its colored pseudo-beltways but it could use a high speed one.

I don't see how wasting precious dollars on senseless projects is going to improve the situation, it's just more of the same. for waht? to be more like atlanta which ranks dead last in social mobility?