http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/politics/07radio.html Etc., etc. Take a minute and read the whole article. Taken at face value, this would seem to be an extremely good thing for our membership here, and our industry as a whole. I do wonder where contractors are going to find the manpower necessary to make it happen though. It just doesn't seem to me that you can take an unemployed auto worker, for example, and sit him in an excavator and expect magic to happen. I'm sure there will be many other ramifications as well. (On edit: Obviously, it's not going to make so much difference to our members on the other side of the pond, but your opinions are welcome as well.) Discuss.
I agree! Back when they built the interstate system it was more manpower than horsepower! Now it's just the opposite at most job sites. Could really turn out to be a good thing for everyone that doesn't bite off more than they can handle.
I can agree on the bottom up spending strategy to boost the economy but I don't think putting broad band internet in every home is going to make any difference when the installers only make a little better than minimum wage and the people getting it can't afford the home to live in little lone putting food on the table. I can't see much economic boost to logging families when the greenies have tied up the forests. Are you going to teach a choker setter how to make photo cells? Since we can't clean up all the dead forest fuels I guess we will have to pay them to put out forest fires. California has lots of burned homes from the last go around. Insurance companies should be able to put lots of construction workers to work there. But then again those contractors usually only hire illegals. I think I hear the insurance industry getting in line for another bail out. Green buildings are a nice thought but all the supposed green buildings in the Pacific Northwest cost more to operate and maintain than the conventional ones already in place. The highway system really needs a huge chunk of money to maintain and update bridges and roads. That will go a long way towards building the economy. Your point about making untrained people work in the construction industry is particularly apt. How many finance executives do you think it will take to poor a bridge footing? At least there they can't hurt the economy any more than they have. The final note in all this is how are we going to pay for it? Print more money I suppose. If you think houses are loosing value now, just wait for the Pres. to just print a few billion more IOUs.
The Great New,"New Deal" Just a rehash of FDR policies, is not going to improve the economy. The CCC ,(CivilianConstruction Corps) and the WPA, (Works Progress Administraion) spent lot of Gov't money for sure. This time around we need to cure the CAUSES, 1st. Reform the Financial Markets, to end this ruthless speculation, built on nothing ! Wall Street created lot of this mess we are in. Investing in new energy resources so we are not sending our $ to the Saudis, just so, they can build Sand Castles. Stopping this ONE WAY Street on Trade. This Idiotic "Most Favored Nations" trading clause is nuts . Yes, just print more (Fiat) useless paper money , to pay the bills. Our grandchildren will eventually have to pay for it. The FDR Recovery Programs need to be revisited , to see, that it is not, the panacea for todays crisis ! http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29646
Supposedly there are over 5000 projects setting on the books ready to go, just need to have money. Of course, there are 10,000 environmentlists just waiting with 500 judges and a zillion lawyers waiting to stop every one till they get their cut. Then there is the Beaucrats waiting to enact more emissions standards in California like CARB and the others. Lots of contractors have sold off their iron and scattered their hands. Still, we've done it before.
hear in utah ,udot has put all upcoming road projects on hold.except the ones that have all ready been awarded.
For a moment there, I thought I was reading a press release from our own new Federal Labour Government. They are saying almost the same things, high speed broadband for 98% of the population, pour money into roads and infrastructure, create jobs. All sounds fine if you have the money to pay for it. The last Liberal Government left the nation with quite a few billion dollar surplus, now already the Labour Government is talking about going in to a deficit to fund all of their projects. Granted, recent world events haven't helped the financial situation, our infrastructure is run down and some of our roads are third world equivalent. I would like to see the goverment spend more money in all of these areas, but not to the extent of running the whole country into massive debt and we are paying millions of dollars in interest for years, like we have done in the past. Financially, Australia is sitting not too bad at the moment, but if I was an American taxpayer, I would be some what skeptical as to where the money is going to come from to fund these public works, because up until recently, we have been hearing about how much debt America has already. Rn'R.
I'm concerned about where the money will come from first and foremost. Next week the Fed's are supposedly releasing 15 billion to the Big 3 for the first phase of their "bailout". This treasury will spin violently out of control if this keeps up. Or maybe as was stated, they'll just keep printing money with nothing to back it up. Why not, there'll be nothing to lose anyway if it keeps escalating like it is.
I too am concerned about where the money is going to come from. More robbing peter to pay paul? Or borrow more from the likes of China? Either way, i have a feeling my yet to be born children will be paying for this for some time to come. Dont get me wrong, this will be great for me, as it will for many of my fellow operators, and company owners. Being in a union local where the average age is 48 years old, we have a lot of guys that are about to move on out of the trade. For a 26 year old like me this means great times ahead. I want to see a few stipulations added to this bill. Like US citizens doing the work. Local companies get the projects. No Kiewett or Walsh Construction coming into Michigan. Send the money, and let it stay in that area. Also, i want to see something that says materials are US made. Sand, gravel, cement and the like are not a problem. But lets make sure we dont have bridge and rebar iron coming from China. After all, if this is to help our economy, then lets not be sending dollars out of country.
As long as "they" keep the project sizes "small" Keiwit and Walsh won't come to MI, we have lots of good "local" companies here in MI that can do the work. The federal projects already prohibit foreign steel and rebar. When steel was in tight supply a few years ago (2003 /4) that caused some delay issues for projects with steel beams / girders. PS: Turbo, Where you live in MI?
Northart is dead on. Its great to try to stimulate the economy and create jobs, but paying for it with more loans from China or just printing U.S. dollars to pay for projects is asanine. We are part of a global economy, and America has assumed the role of global consumers, as opposed to global producers and suppliers. I believe we have made Asian countries prosper by squandering the wealth that our grandparents earned. We need to get back to being a global producer, and get some of our money back from Asia, not as an IOU. It was a foolish move to abandon the gold standard in America.
Well when you are robbing Peter to pay Paul, Paul never has a problem with it! Just print more fiat money and let everything inflate. Just think of it as we are Paul and our children are Peter. I have a major issue with increasing public spending, especially at this magnitude. Besides the very good questions about where the money is coming from what about the governments rather steallar record of managing such "mega-projects". A few that come to mind is the Big Dig in Boston and here in my neck of the woods, the Jefferson County $3B super-sewer to nowhere.:Banghead I hope they include some money for new Courthouses and Jails in the public spending package to handle all the corruption, bribery and pay-offs that will go on trial during this Federal Gov. spending spree. (They have indicted the Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford for his kick-backs on the sewer deal when he was a County Commissioner.) If they want to stimulate the economy, you have to stimulate/relieve the private sector from taxes and excessive regulation. If I were on O's transition team, this is what I would recommend: 1. Pass the 2 month tax holiday for everyone . No Federal Taxes on anyone that pays them in the month of January and Feburary 2. Suspend the capital gains tax on both individuals and companies, if not for good at least until 2011. This would do more to stimulate the construction industry than any of the pinheads in Washington could legistlate. Industrial, retail, multi-family and commercial construction would take-off as owners sold properties to take the gains and new projects came on line. 3. Immediately give a $25K tax credit to anyone that buys a hybrid vehicle. GM has a hybrid Yukon and Ford has a few as well. And make it per vehicle with no limt. So if you wanted to buy 3 new work trucks you would get a Federal Tax cut of $75K right off the top and allow the credit to carry forward. This would stimulate the auto industry and help the fight against dependancy on forgien oil. Tax breaks that reach every business is more of a stimulus than targeted spending on a few industries. Bigger government and more gov spending is not the answer.
All I can really say is welcome to the world of feel good politics, created by the radical college turds back in the 60's-70's that are now in our government that were too high to pay attention in economics or ethics classes.
well considering we do 95% public work im all for it.. our kids kids, etc etc are going to be screwed anyone, so hopefully i'll be able to leave them a nice sum to survive!
It seems a lot of the existing roads, bridges and mass transit need repair/modernization. That is something nearly all of us use, and the trucking industry needs it to survive.
Besides the issue of where the money comes from to fund these projects, the next issue is WHO for once in our history will ACCOUNT for where it is SUPPOSED to go? I've witnessed it forehand, when Big Brother starts throwing dollar bills out in the wind for people to catch, it all doesn't seem to get caught by the right ones. The corruption that results from these "projects" is deplorable. No one is there to police the thing with any honesty any more it seems. Cases in point: The "Big Dig", where trailer loads of specially ordered rebar were never delivered, brought to the scrapyard and somebody made off with the proceeds. I-84 in Connecticut, project that was "done" by De Felice Construction where all the drainage, manholes and catch basins were installed, but no pipes going to or from them. And the grandest one of all, which is near and dear to my heart...Hurricane Katrina, which I was personally invloved in back in '05, where I was led to believe what was in my contract was going to happen, and never did. I got out with the skin of my teeth, but barely, and lost more than I care to admit here. So all these projects are welcome, it will bring work, but don't start crying when the corruption hits the news. It's just the point of view from a "realist", that's all.
LowBoy, those kind of public works jobs are usually done on a fixed-price basis (not time and materials) with a bonus-penalty clause for when the work is completed. As far as the jobs you talked about if materials were stolen either the supplier or the contractor (or their insurance company) had to pay for it. I never heard of a contractor putting in an extra for stolen materials, and I don't think it would fly. We (all of us citizens) do pay for it however, in higher insurance premiums.
I understand that fully Buckethead, and between two honest, hard working individuals like you and I, that would be the norm. However, there are a lot of people at the Federal, municipal, and even the private sector that do like some extra income earned in the form of "payoffs"...It's just an ugly truth. Besides, has there ever been a bid job awarded on the earth that hasn't had a change order or "extra" attached to it? That's where the trouble begins.
AND why wasn't CM1995 listed on my ballot in November?:cool2 just kidding, but I do like the points that you are making!
Just a few months ago my dad had to get going on a new salt shed in the southern part of the county. This was a state salt shed, paid for BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. We have tons of really good builders in the area and they ended up hiring some knot heads from down south of chicago who did a terible job and was WAY over what it would hav cost anyone of the local builders in the area. If it is state work, then state companies should have the job. Keep the money working in your own area. But hey the gov't knows what its doing, RIGHT? Trbo
I agree. (Maybe not about the government knowing what's right... ) We have contractors bidding on local work from out-of-state all the time now when there are plenty of local contractors, with years of experience working for our town government, who know how to do it right, the first time! One out-of-town guy came in and built a pumphouse in a nicer section of town a few years back. Instead, it ended up having problems and causing sewage overflows until another guy was brought in to fix the problem. ointhead Unfortunately, I think they ended up replacing the building altogether and costing thousands more than it should have.
I remember that pumphouse Stretch (im from southington too). If i remember correctly, that new pumphouse was built the RIGHT way in less than 1/4 of the time it took the first company to screw it up.
Legalize pot...:drinkup Tax pot.....:usa Stop spending money on a (drug) war that can't be won. Isn't pot one of the nations biggest cash crops? If so, think of the tax money that could be put back into the system. Allowing China or any foreign country to bail US out is degrading :badidea How long will we allow these elected jerks to use foreign money to bail us out? We may have won the battle, but with the way things are going, we'll never win the war :cool2
Its a start, Rendell is already doing that here in PA,well was anyway In my opinion....the whole problem with the economy is simply people running in fear,thanks to the media.The only reason I can see the economy is so messed up is the price of fuel. Come on every single company in the world is struggling with the exception of the oil companies and they showed the highest profits EVER EVER EVER!! in the whole wide world. I sure as hell hope there is not anyone scratching there head while reading that. Call up CNN,Fox news,ABC,NBC and simply have them say..."hey everyone the recession is over, every thing is looking good,wall street is feeling happy,the housing market is rapidly getting better etc."( ya I know its not that easy ) EVERY ONE FEEDS OFF THE DANG MEDIA. This just in the....the sky is falling..well holy #%*! run for your life.....:falldownlaugh. you following me? Oh ya.I think the oil companies should be investigated as to why the above mentioned happened and make them bail out the BIG 3. My opinion...its their fault
Welcome to the site Kev! :drinkup Glad to see another local on here.
You may want to write me off as a raving lunatic. I wouldn't blame you - not one bit. But, I am terrified, and I think it is different, this time. The below discussion was done by Europeans. I have no clue who or where they are, but they seem highly credible. They are saying that there well could be food riots and tax revolts in the USA, by next summer. That is their target estimate for when we will wake up to a new currency, and your dollars will be worth dimes. Summer 2009: The US government defaults on its debt September 2008 is the month when the « financial detonator » of the global systemic crisis exploded. This second semester 2008 is the time when « the world dives into the heart of the impact phase of the global systemic crisis » (6); which means for our researchers that, at the end of this semester, the world enters the « decanting phase » of the crisis, i.e. a phase when the outcome of the shock settles down. This phase is the longest (from 3 to 10 years, according to the country) and the one affecting the largest number of people and countries. It is also the phase when the components of new global equilibriums will start to appear... Phase IV of the Global Systemic crisis: Breakdown of the Global Monetary System by summer 2009 The G20-meeting held in Washington on November 14/15, 2008, is in its essence a historical indicator that the Western - above all Anglo-Saxon - monopoly on global economic and financial governance, is coming to an end. By summer 2009, the failing of the current system and that of the United States at the center, will lead the whole planet to an unprecedented economic, social, political and strategic instability, and more specifically to a breakdown of the global monetary system. A 3rd party analysis from March 2008, on the authors of the above comments: In summery, they seem to be rather on target in their predictions. This group of surprising historical accuracy is predicting a systematic meltdown in Sept/Oct. This is not a radical group in their thinking, others have arrived to the same conclusions.
Why does this seem so credible to you? Just because it was reviewed by a nameless third party, and the analysis itself done of nameless Europeans? Was it done by the economics department at Oxford, or just some faceless blogger? Wasn't there another theory like this going around that there would be riots and global panic very shorty after the quadruple witching day (ooooh, sounds scary doesn't it ). That came and went without so much as a hiccup, so hopefully this theory does the same.
A business can operate on borrowed money, up to a point. Then, it can't. Gov't can print money, but there are limits there, just as there are limits to everything. Unless gov't is somehow immune to the principles of money.. Well, we have about 6 months, to find out.
I don't know about anyone else but I am doing very well. Making more then I have ever made before, working less then I have to, Most every thing I have is paid for, and have money in the bank, and in a sock. I also have more work then I can handle or would want to. Contracts signed for the next 5 years. Leases signed for the next 5 years. Because of the way I have diversified my business 50% of it could fail and I would still be making a living. With other business failing it leaves the door open for new investments. I am not going to stick my head in the sand and wait for dooms day, if it comes I will go out with a bang. if it does not come I will be on top of it all. I started with nothing, and if I had to I could do it again I could but this time with experience. Think positive. If everyone did the situation most everyone is in would not exist. Lets hear it for the pipe line out of Alaska. Private money spent by the oil co's. infusion of how many billions of $s into the construction industry. Not government loans that have to be paid back. feeding the bottom of the food chain, letting it work it's way up. Only thing I can see that is going to slow it down is the tree huggers. Dwan
Amen! :notworthy I am in my fifth year of having my own business, and my twentieth year in the construction industry. This year was my best year in business and next year looks to be as good if not better. When I ran the excavation end of a business we did better in a recession. Interest rates drop and people (the working man) can afford to do new homes , additions, and other things. As gas prices keep falling more people will invest again, and travel , shop and spend money. It may take 2 to 5 years to get out of this rut but all this doomsday stuff was said back in the eightees and did it happen? No! Like Dwan said we need to have a more positive outlook on the economy and our lives. As far as the press goes believe about 40 percent of what is said. It would be nice to see some positive things printed in the press for a change , instead of doom and gloom all the time. Happy Holidays to everyone on HEF! The best to all !
Prosperity I am buying stock, in paper and ink ! With the Gov't printing all this money, going to be a huge demand ! LOL :drinkup
These seem relevant, somehow....
Good one Alan!! "We are from your Government. We are here to help you." Im sure thats a quote I herd somewhere but cant remember where.
Ronald Reagan.:usa The most terrifying words in the English language - "We are from the Federal Government and we are here to help".
If these Public works plans take effect, the real test is how its administered. How much loss versus how much profit. Transportation systems of all types is a must. How well the money alloted is spent on such systems will prove as a "financial savior" IF the amount of theft/bid corruption/material control's is kept in check.
Just my .02 The private sector is not really moving right now, due to tight credit, and a slow real estate market. The stimulus just might be the thing to slow the freefall of the economy, if not turn it around. Remember this work will be done by private contracting companies, it's not what the talking heads on TV make it out to be. Around here a lot of roads need widening anyway. When they designed the roads here they had no idea how much residential development there would be.
well the stimulus turned out to be not as good as they originally said.. its only down to 40 some billion now, from the 350 billion originally stated.. its going to help but i was hoping for much more!
Not sure where your geting your number but it's near 800 bill. I heard a figure last week off fox that it was enough to give every person in WORLD $1400, but i'm too lazy to go number crunching. :bash Here is the tax portion of the stimulus bill, don't have anything on the other 2/3s of the bill, but thats the government. http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG 2009/021209 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.pdf and the wiki article on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009 If this bill was ALL tax cuts and infrastructure spending i would be all for it, and i mean real infrastructure not building government buildings. Infrastructure spending is at least a year out in most cases, which by then we may or may not be out of this mess without it or deeper in with it. Isn't the law of intended consequences fun?:Banghead They took out a tax credit to buy new cars and cut a tax credit to buy a home in half. Both tax credit were deemed to logical to be enacted. Small business create jobs not the government, until the government figures that out small business will continue be regulated out existence. Sorry for the mess, but this all give me a headache
even as a canadain i would love to see the market get pulled out on both sides of the boarder. much like the US they also promise public works projects. and yet again ill belive it when i see it. to pull the world out of the world of **** that its heading for the public watch dogs that watch the big brother spending should be gearing up to go through the bills with a fine tooth comb, i heard on the news a while ago that some bail out money had been released here for the banks but no one was to sure where alot of it went....well thats nice isnt it? so hopefully if these projects do see the light of day that the money is actuly spent on the use it was meant for..not a day of golf with the budwiser girls...allthough we all wish:drinkup
Laying blame won't solve problems It seems many people have someone to blame for the current economic situation and there sure were a few people in the financial system in the USA and other countries who should give back their bonuses to taxpayers and then some. It also seems the previous Government was asleep at the wheel to let all this happen as well. However when Government cops the blame, and sometimes it well deserves a serve, think about what it's like to be in local, state or Federal Government trying to keep everyone happy. A few friends of mine have been in local Government in my part of Australia. All of them went in to be honest representatives of their community and none of them have lasted beyond a single term. They just got burnt out. They weren't paid much at all and it was a full time job 7 days a week. Unfortunately there were councillors already in place who didn't rate integrity highly so they had a hard time on every issue where they felt outcomes were not right for their constituents. But they retained their integrity throughout and achieved some great outcomes through sheer hard work. But one of the biggest problems of being in Government at every level is keeping everyone happy. There are thousands of people with issues they feel are life and death for them and stuff everyone else. I see them in my community turning up at meetings wanting something done now for them and then when they have what they want they don't hang around to help others with their needs even though they had the support of those others to help them. We need to get beyond selfish concerns and help each other to achieve benefits for our communities which are for the common good of all. If we unite as a community around a common cause it makes it a lot easier for the Govt at whatever level to support a good outcome instead of broadcasting money around hoping enough will hit everybody and make 'em happy. Also working with others in your community is a great way to spread the word about your business and get yourself known as a decent person who deserves to get any work which may come up amongst community members. Also do some research on your Govt representatives by talking to them all and finding out what they are really like. Some will be worse than you can imagine and others will be good. Support the decent incorruptible ones even if it goes against your previous party preferences. And horror of horrors talk to the greenies/tree huggers etc. And I don't mean the feral ones the media loves to show. Statistically environmentally minded folk are generally higher income earners and potentially great sources of work for small operators. So what if they want you to work around every tree to save it and don't want you to run over snakes. They're paying for the extra time it takes and if they like your work and attitude they'll get you back. What's more they'll tell their friends too. Oh and grow your own vegies, livestock if you can. Tastes better than those at the supermarket and saves heaps. Previous generations including my grandparents did this as a matter of course after going through the great depression and second world war, and in tough times it really pays off. Regards Dave
This is my opinion but I don't think it was the previous administrastion that where asleep at the wheel, it was more the party that is in control now fighting tooth and nail to make previous look as bad as humanly possable.
Now that those two opposing opinions have had equal time, I'll point out that we're once again crossing the line into politics. Can we please respect forum policy about that?
Im on the village board in my small town and weve been coming up with a wish list in case some money shakes lose. I dont think a large enough percentage will be put towards infrastructure.
I think that is the way to go. Have projects ready, as far as they could possibly be, just waiting on $$. I am interested to see how this plays out. I doubt the their (govt.) idea of infrastructure is that same as ours (blue collar folks..sorry if you don't fit in my generality). We see infrastructure as roads, power, transportation support (docks, waterway, bridge). I think the Govt. sees infrastructure as corporate funding, retail (brick & mortar) tax breaks, banks. It is really perspective. We see tires, engine, nuts & bolts. & they see Paint, Apholstry, carpet. Not sayin one is right or wrong, just seen in different perspectives....would like "them" to see it from "our" perspective a little more.
I agree. More money in roads & bridges is what I was hoping for.
Hmm, paint, apholstry, and carpet is infrastructure? Infrastructure can be defined as the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise [1]. The term typically refers to the technical structures that support a society, such as roads, water supply, sewers, power grids, telecommunications, and so forth. as seen on wikipedia This bill has way too much money going to everything but roads and bridges. One only needs to take a drive to see where the money needs to be spent. Aging sewer and water systems. Aging power grids, which seems like they may get a boost in this bill. Aging roads and bridges. Certain portions of which are in abismall shape. One needs to look no further than the I35 bridge in MN for a prime example. Ill take a drive today and see if i cant grab a few pictures of how MDOT fixes bridges with bad concrete decks. On top they throw cold patch on a hole. On the bottom of the bridge they build a series of platforms out of 2x6s and plywood to catch any falling concrete
Sorry, bad analogy...but I think I am close to the truth. Everyday Isit on an overpass here in modesto that bounces up & down when a truck drives across...nothin compared to 2x8 & plywood though!
Well at least neither of you guys have to cross this everyday - ( ) pic in post #1. Makes you appreciate what we do have in the states, even if it is "substandard" to our standards.
Here's how we do it in Pittsburgh... The concrete arch bridge carries a local arterial road across the Parkway East, which is the main highway out of town to all points east. When the netting failed to catch all the concrete chunks that were falling on the traffic below, they built another "bridge" underneath, to catch the falling debris and protect the traffic. Pretty slick, huh? Picture pirated from the "Pittsburgh" forum on City Data.com
I was really hoping that more of the Stimulus bill would be going to infrastructure also. If all of the $787 billion was going to pure infrastructure, imagine the jobs that would be created, not only to the companies doing the actual projects but to all of the suppliers, trucking industry, equipment manufacturers, etc. Think about every costs that is associated with your work projects. The company I work for is mainly in the sewer business, we specialize in slip lining and pipe bursting. Aside from the usual equipment (mini excavators, back hoes, air compressors, work trucks,etc), we also have vendors that supply us with our pipe bursting equipment, then you have the vendors that sell us the pipe and fittings, the fusing machines, the local fuel suppliers, and when we go out of town for work, we need motels, restaurants, clothes,etc. Then with our employees making money, when they get home they would spend it-fix up the house, buy a new car, boat, motorcycle, go on vacation. Everyone would get a piece of the pie if the bill was aimed more towards the infrastructure.
My $.02........States like PA stand to see a significant amount of $$$. A "thanks for voting Democrat this time" incentive. States like NY that are always blue, will get a piece but, we need not be coddled in order to ensure future votes. That being said, everyone should watch the types of projects that appear after the funding flood gates are opened. With regards to the highway industry, I predict the following, lots of paving projects and a few "high profile" bridge rehabs. I'm assuming you've all seen a paving operations before. Lots of trucks ,lights, and people!! Makes a great backgorund for that "Infastructure Update" on the local news at 6! Plus the road looks so nice after it's done. A great photo op for some local politicos. "Look how we spent your $$, isn't this new pavement beautiful!!" (Now don't come back here with a camera 8 months later to see that the 1 1/2" skim layer is cracked and pot holed, just like it was before it was "fixed") And the bridges will be high visibility ordeals. The Gov't will need as much positive expsoure for these projects as possible. So anything that is accessible and easily viewed by the masses is up for rehab! Here's to hoping that some of you can get on board that gravy train when it comes a rumblin through your towns!!
Basspro; If that bridge you are sitting on everyday stops moving when a truck goes over it ,you should start running like the Devil is after you.It's suppose to move if not get off. The little guy is the one that should have the stimulus. They would spend it,where as the big guy will spend it on bonuses, corp. jets,vacations,trips for the family using the corp. jet. mailtrain
Should be great MDOT gets a whopping 856 million according to the news today On the other hand, towns, and school districts get 7 billion. Lets see how that money can be wasted. Finally medicad gets 2.3 billion. Im sure this will turn everything around :stirthepot
This is a political thread.
Michigan Bridge Repair Finally got a shot of how MDOT fixes the bridges around here. This problem began a few years ago in the Detroit area. MDOTS excuse down there was it was concrete that used slag, instead of stone. A few years later we started running into the problem up here, where there is no slag. Go figure. This is a five step fix. Step 1, when you get a pot hole on a bridge, throw some cold pack asphalt in the hole, dont question where the chunks of went. Step 2 Wait a month or so. Step 3, by now someone has had a chunk fall on the car, it has made the news, Now its time to act. Step 4, Run and get a bunch of plywood and 2xs, make sure to shut down the road. Now place the plywood between the I beams to catch the concrete. Fill with cold patch up on the road surface. Step 5, pass this on to your PR person for the region. This does not apply to bridges over water, those are a one step repair process, throw more cold patch in it.
Shhhh... We're trying to hijack it into a bridge thread.
I lost the pic of Penndot's bridge repair when my hard drive crashed. Someone hit the guard rail on the bridge and a piece of girder was hanging out in the lane of traffic. This is a one lane iron girder bridge over a small river. After 2 phone calls and a personal visit to the local maintenance shed they finally sent a crew out. Their repair was to paint the end of the beam with PINK marker paint and rope it back about six inches. three weeks later I stopped with my camera and sent a few shots to the state representatives office and Penndots main headquarters.I included a few shots of the water taken thru the holes in the deck. I mentioned that the press would have a field day with this and the next day they had a crane,welder and a patching crew to fill in the holes in the deck.
Now is this was a political post? We will all hope and pray for the money to come our way. A large part on my business was infrastructure. Now that it's over the stimulus, how much money will really come our way for infrastructure? They are talking about 3% in the next 9 months. Anything is better than nothing I guess? The only the writers of stimulus know what is in it, no one was given the time to read it and it was not posted on line like the 5 days to review the President promised during the elections. Remember what he said about the pork! Along with this is the environmental research that goes into each project and the cost and wasted time, just hoe long. The Alaskan Highway was built in 10 months with the current state of regulations, we are held hostage to environmental regulations these great projects along with Interstate Highway would still be in the courts. I can only hope the O///a golden egg is not some cheep import thin plated golden egg. I feel that I am so over regulated that I have to go outside and scream several time a day, the endless filing and renewals! The debit that comes out of this; anyone that has debit is a slave to it. We USA are now a slave to this debit.
Paving and crude oil. My$.01 Are you aware that with out crude oil no paving. Since the present group in control of Washington is not going to push for DRILLING FOR OIL so much for your paving when the crude goes up again. Our AC price is still high because there is no work to use up there supplies that were bought at high prices, plus environmental fees and the last price was $75.00 per ton at the plant this winter. Two years ago it was half of that, lets borrow the money and send it to the oil producing country's to help them out. Still no energy policy except plug in cars for the give me more group in Washington, oh I forgot they hate power generated by coal to?
Paving and crude oil. Well put Darryl... :thumbsup And I had a big rant going about wolves and "empire- building"... but I lost my internet connection... and the post. Probably just as well... :ban I agree though, the enviro thing is out of control!!! Wolf reintroduction... same people responsible for the project are now flying around in helicopters... shooting them! Too many; now they need to be "managed" (forever?).. :crazy.. :Banghead *Empire-building= *Source= Wikipedia My insert...( land management agency ) OCR PS... I know what you mean...
I thought there were no political threads on here?
As long as it stays professional it should be OK, IMO. There is mostly talks about the stimulus, & where the $$$ will go, should go, & why. & this is really a bridge thread
That would be a bridge between the 2 sides
Sounds like the quick fix is all they want to do. The reason is they have spent the money from road tax, state gas-diesel fuel tax and sales tax on social well-fair programs, that's unfair. We have the same problem here in California. They are real dumb here on concrete roads, NO REINFORCED CONCRETE. And the lanes with broken concrete panels go un-repaired wile they build car pool lanes. Here they try and create congestion. They have taken a lot of the cloverleaf out and put up stop signs. THAT IS PROGRESS IN THIS PROGRESSIVE STATE!??? I will get some pictures of our roads. We have a lazy caltrans here, maybe we need a contest for the worst DOT, does your DOT speak American or something that you don't understand, we also have that problem it's called communications. I think the truck mag Overdrive does a pole on the worst roads, maybe someone can find that too, need tho hold the burocrats accountable.
As stated by Jim Owens (Caterpillar CEO) in a Q&A session at a recent press conference, the relative proportion of the stimulus package consists of approximately 5% of 2008 annual US construction spend. Therefore it is expected that only marginal new equipment will be required but existing equipment will be better utilized. Earth Moving Equipment (EME) Library Locate - Index - Brief http://www.emelibrary.com
New Projects for us to get work. Porkqulis! Jim Owens also stated that they were still laying off, this was after O///a spoke and said that they would be hiring. YES HE CONTRADICTED WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID. You can not turn things around with a snap of the fingers. I have a list of all the local city projects by state and city that the mayers sumitted some are needed most are yes porkqulis! Find projects by state or territory * Alaska (46 projects) * Alabama (318 projects) * Arkansas (199 projects) * Arizona (743 projects) * California (1971 projects) * Colorado (201 projects) * Connecticut (449 projects) * Washington, D.C. (8 projects) * Delaware (7 projects) * Florida (1752 projects) * Georgia (266 projects) * Hawaii (316 projects) * Iowa (51 projects) * Idaho (348 projects) * Illinois (1031 projects) * Indiana (713 projects) * Kansas (139 projects) * Kentucky (524 projects) * Louisiana (433 projects) * Massachusetts (266 projects) * Maryland (54 projects) * Maine (72 projects) * Michigan (782 projects) * Minnesota (335 projects) * Missouri (403 projects) * Mississippi (552 projects) * Montana (57 projects) * North Carolina (319 projects) * North Dakota (61 projects) * Nebraska (154 projects) * New Jersey (261 projects) * New Mexico (215 projects) * Nevada (163 projects) * New York (289 projects) * Ohio (847 projects) * Oklahoma (223 projects) * Oregon (159 projects) * Pennsylvania (352 projects) * Puerto Rico (340 projects) * Rhode Island (116 projects) * South Carolina (271 projects) * South Dakota (30 projects) * Tennessee (103 projects) * Texas (1240 projects) * Utah (298 projects) * Virginia (400 projects) * Vermont (61 projects) * Washington (368 projects) * Wisconsin (358 projects) * West Virginia (1 projects) * Wyoming (85 projects) This is a great piece of information pass it around, most of the money is going to be spent right before the 2010 elections, can you guess why? Also 3 billion will go to the community orginazation groups like acorn. Is this stimulus or political? 2010 elections? Information age is what we are in, lets provide that information, lets wake the sleeping giant before it's to late.
Where's New Hampshire?
The State Rep for New Hampshire was on Glen Beck and said they were voting NO. He also said that the Blair Holt HR45 Gun registration was folded into stimulus bill.
All I can tell everybody is two words Guns&Ammo everybody better stock up.Because it will be doubtful if this country will survive the next four years.God help us all.
You guys just don't get the NO POLITICS thing, do you? :Banghead Time to put this thread to sleep.