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Obama’s pork rancid in Charlotte

By: Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary)  |  February 11th, 2009 at 01:02 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Obama pork bypasses dangerous Interstate exit ramps in Charlotte

[Originally published by TMR Legal Editor, Mike "gamecock" DeVine as Charlotte Law and Civil Rights Examiner @ Examiner.com where all for verification links may be accessed.]

The non-stimulating $1.2 trillion GovernmentGrowthulus/porkulus Obama-Pelosi-Reid bill will soon become law thanks to 327 Democrat and 3 Republican votes in the House and Senate. Barring a miracle, it is a fait accompli.

What is so sad is that Charlotte can’t even find a silver-lining in this dark cloud of a monstronsity of debt in any of the pork.

[At least FDR's New Deal left us with improved infrastructure if not an end to the Great Depression and thank God we are blessed with the best BBQ in the Carolinas during the Obama depression, if we can afford it, but I digress...]

Regularly deprived of needed state road funds by the rural-Democratic Party dominated State legislature that has left our Interstate highway exchanges in 1960-70s antiquated-style conditions, we now get stiffed by the most generous helping of pork ever passed at any BBQ or by any government in world history.

One of the most striking things I have noticed since I moved to the Queen City two years ago, is how old and dangerous are Interstate highway ramps whose circle circumferences are too tight and so regularly result in tipped over tractor-trailer rigs (pictured on I-85 ramp in Mecklenburg County) that cause death, destruction and traffic delays.

More modern interstate highway exchanges have much wider and safer ramps.

We were told that this so-called stimulus bill would target “shovel-ready” projects that could put people to work immediately.

We were lied to.

Instead, we get funds allocated for more light rail in Charlotte. Nothing is more non-shovel ready than light rail. Nothing is more shovel-ready than interstate highway ramps, as they already have huge right-of-ways surrounding the existing interchanges.

Oh, but the residence hall at Davidson gets money for renovations. Davidson is a private college for the wealthy. It gets public funds while semi’s continue to tip over and kill people on public roads.

Very stimulating President Obama.

Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer, Examiner.com and Minority Report columns

“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

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COMMENTS

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  • izoneguy

    democratic bosses will get nice houses built in Charlotte from all that Federal “stimulus”? I can’t wait to work on the documentary “Where have all the Federal “stimulus” dollars gone”. No doubt they are setting up the off-shore bank accounts now.

  • George Neitz

    I have been driveing through Charlotte for the past twenty plus years and it has gotten progressivley worse due to the huge increase in traffic, the highway system in the city is meant for the population of the mid sixties and is now trying to handle a population nearly triple. The highways need a dramatic rebuild and expansion.

  • Flagstaff

    where the Interstate system needs to have off and on ramps upgraded.

    There is a ramp of I-94 just west of Ann Arbor, Michigan, that has regular tractor-trailer tipovers.

    You are absolutely right about the relative “shovel-readiness” of these projects. The most shovel-ready thing here is the bill itself. It should be buried immediately, but I expect it’ll be left above ground to stink things up for years.

  • Mike gamecock DeVine
  • haydus

    and your local MPO makes the decision how the transportation funds are spent, that’s not a flaw in the bill. The House version had New Starts money, which would pay for building a new system or expanding an existing system. It is possible that there was a second phase to the Charlotte light rail system engineered back when the existing rail was engineered. If it was then there is a chance that it is “shovel-ready” and unfunded, which would qualify the project for funds under the stimulus. I heard the Senate bill cut out the New Starts money, and I don’t think the details of the final bill have been released yet so we’ll see. I’ve heard that the new Charlotte commuter rail system has been pretty popular.

  • Mike gamecock DeVine

    Yes, the local govt and the state DOT are partially responsible for what projects they request funds for, but Obama is president of a federal govt that is responsible for the interstate highway system and who has promised to take care of us. Just like there are strings when states and banks take money, so are there strings when the feds take responsibility.

    Hence, this column.

  • Mike gamecock DeVine

    Yes, the local govt and the state DOT are partially responsible for what projects they request funds for, but Obama is president of a federal govt that is responsible for the interstate highway system and who has promised to take care of us. Just like there are strings when states and banks take money, so are there strings when the feds take responsibility.

    Hence, this column.

  • haydus

    So you think the President should dictate to states how they spend their transportation allotment, that he should come “take care of you”. Well, everyone’s opinion is their own…

  • Mike gamecock DeVine

    they are doing a poor job!

  • Flagstaff

    if the money were spent to finish the border fence and reinforce it with agents?

  • Flagstaff

    Sorry ’bout that, chief.