Posted on 07/15/2006 6:34:18 AM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
The People in Taxachussets have been making the wrong choices for decades.
It ain't gonna be just Taxachusetts that's gonna pay for this folks; remember this is part of the Federal Highway system and was a Federally funded project from the git-go.
Whatever the cost, it will be borne by all of us yet again.
What was the cost projection in the '80's? $2 Billion?
Now $14 Billion and counting.
Have to wonder how much of this was merely a funnel from taxpayer through contractors to fat, plain envelopes quietly passed to certain Senators and Congresscitters.
Once again, another Bastion of Liberalism, proves to us all how completely disfuctional Liberalism itself is.
This boondoggle may have an interstate designation, but it is really under the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which mean the MassPike is responsible for repairs, not FHWA. The Massachusetts politicians can lobby Congress for a direct appropriation or earmark (which is how the Big Sieve was funded in the first place).
I can't bear to watch any of the local news channels out of Boston, but for some reason I didn't reflexively change the channel when the 10:00 news came on after 24 one time last year. They featured an "investigative report" on the Big Dig's cost overruns and other scandals. So at the end of this 20 minute segment, the "reporter" came to the conclusion that this is all Ronald Reagan's fault. That's right. RONALD REAGAN! Never mind that the guy was dead, but he'd been out of office for over 20 years, and they still found a way to blame him. Something about that he didn't want to fully fund the project back in the '80s, and this led to all of the problems. I don't remember the logic (since none was used). It just sickened me.
Is this the culture of corruption that we've been hearing so much about?
For those not familiar with the Len Bias story, here's the Cliff Note version: an extremely talented young basketball player, drafted by the Boston Celtics as the Larry Bird era was coming to an end. Len had the promise to keep the magic going and the town was stoked. Then young Len o'd on cocaine in a dorm room and died. The Celtic dynasty was over and they have never really recovered.
Bless Len's mom for working with young people and warning them of the dangers.
Forgive my ignorance, but is this a toll road or an Interstate Highway? How can a state extract a toll for a highway that the Federal Government paid for?
Nope.
The Feds have already told Massachusetts not one for dime for the thing.
I've seen the clip several times, of him vetoing this. Calling it pure pork in a most Reaganesque way. Wish I could remember it word for word.
That's when Kennedy had to remind some folks of that time they were told " someday, and that day may never come, I'll call on you for a service.
Whatever the cost, it will be borne by all of us yet again.
Sorry, it's early. I meant to reply "The Feds have already told Massachusetts not one MORE dime for the thing."
The project's two major components:
Federal Interstate:
Replacing the six-lane elevated highway with an eight-to-ten-lane underground expressway directly beneath the existing road, culminating at its northern limit in a 14-lane, two-bridge crossing of the Charles River. After the underground highway opened to traffic, the crumbling elevated was demolished and in its place will be open space and modest development.
Toll Road:
The extension of I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) from its former terminus south of downtown Boston through a tunnel beneath South Boston and Boston Harbor to Logan Airport. The first link in this new connection - the four-lane Ted Williams Tunnel under the harbor - was finished in December 1995.
Massachusetts is more like the American version of Fallujah (or say, Lebanon). The majority (moderates) are held captive by a corrupt, fanatical, liberal minority.
The State is so corrupt and the election system so rigged, we can't get these criminals out. A good example is Fat Matt (head of the Pike). The Governor, Senate President, House Leader and Mayor of Boston all came together to get rid of him yet he's still there at $250K/yr.
"these people of Massachusetts."....Several "up Eastern" states fit that mold.....
That, my friend, is a great analogy of the political situation in MA!!!
What you will never hear, that this is the same sort of local politics and contracting corruption that led to the failures of Katrina.
Then why, for cripes' sake, wasn't some kind of oversight instituted on this project from the second it was proposed???? It can come as no surprise to anyone with a room-temperature IQ that corners were cut, payrolls were padded, bills were sent for work never done. This is BOSTON!
You had to KNOW that this would be the most inefficient, graft-ridden project since that ski resort in Phoenix. Why wasn't an independent group of auditors employed to supervise before the first spade of earth was turned?
Answer? More corruption. And a willingness to tolerate "business as usual."
However, this time, the money Massachusetts wasted came from ALL the taxpayers, not just the pliable Massachusettans. This time, someone should fall.
And this time, I should get a knock on the door from the lottery folks ...
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