Bridge collapse in minneapolis...

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Posted By: David Smith

Paul, here is the problem.

If you listen to Bush, Cheney et al of their ilk, explain things, there is a terrorist hiding behind every rock and tree just waiting to attack and harm Americans and it is only because of their forsight, leadership and vigilance that the terrorists don't. Bush CONSTANTLY keeps scaring the Americn public about terrorists and how they are trying to hurt us. That is why I said I wonder how long before Bush brings up terrorism in this incident.

Because of Bush's fear tactics, now, unfortunately, every time something bad happens, the FIRST thing people think of is terrorism and NOT that it is just an accident. Look at the broken steam pipe in New York City a few weeks ago. Just an accident but did you hear the people and what they first thought? Another terrorist attack. People were running and screaming, losing their shoes and one guy died of a heart attack. Compare this scene to all of the accidents after the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center.

After that attack, when an accident happened, people didn't immediately think terrorist attack, they thought, "Wow, what a sad/bad thing and I feel sorry for the people and families involved". The politicians back then DID NOT try and scare the public at every turn. Bush and Cheney talk about terrorism constantly and even make things up so as to keep "on point".

As far as blaming Bush for the collapse, I blame him (and other politicians) because they have been warned about things like this and have done NOTHING to help prevent it. Bush is SOOO focused on Iraq and terrorist that he doesn't see ANYTHING that is happening here at home. If he were, then he would see these other problems, pull the troops out and devote that money going for the war to the problems here at home. Other politicians should also do this. Some do but most don't. Just look at New Orleans.

Scientists and Engineers had for YEARS told politicians that the levies were in bad shape and terrible things would happen if a hurricane or strong tropical storm hit New Orleans dead on. The politicians might have heard these people talking but they obviously didn't listen or take action. Then, there was Bush's (slow) reaction to help out after the flooding hit the area.

If the war wasn't going on and if politicains didn't add pork spending into bills, there would be plenty of money to correct these problems BEFORE they became a national story and taxes wouldn't have to be raised. But instead of withdrawing troops and redeploying them where the REAL terrorists are (Afghanistan/Pakistan border area) he INCREASES troops in Iraq. This is the WRONG place (what happened to Bush's declaration that America would hunt down Osama Bin Laden WHEREVER he might be?) because now it is going to take EVEN LONGER to get the troops out once it is decided they shouldn't be there.

I heard one military person said even if we started now, all the troops and support personel probably couldn't be withdrawn safely from Iraq until at least 2009 and maybe even 2010. So, that is at least another 1 1/2 to 2 years of instability in the Middle East and thus high oil prices world wide. Thousands of more Americans will be hurt or killed and the Defense contractors will make billions of more dollars. Treasury securities will be issued to cover the cost (Who buys those? Not the single mother of three working two jobs) so the rich will be better off and so will China. All the while, raising taxes will be debated in both Houses and very little money will be actually spent to fix the infrastructure problems of this country.

In short, if Bush wasn't so narrow minded on ONE issue, more problems in this country could get fixed and there would be money to do it.

David