Resurgemus dot com: Bridge(s) to Nowhere

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September 17, 2005

Bridge(s) to Nowhere

Posted by JP at 09:53 AM in Thoughts | Comments (4)

Glenn Reynolds, the Insta-dude, posted an e-mail from one of his readers; read it for yourselves. In summary, Mr. Butler brings up the possibility of bloggers from each state putting pressure on their Congressional delegations to suspend federal funding for some local projects. This money can then be reallocated to help rebuild the areas devastated by hurricane Katrina. As an example, he lists bloggers in Alaska and the federal funding of the "Bridge to Nowhere."

I think the idea of suspending the federal funding of local projects is a sensible idea in the aftermath of Katrina. I'm sure some projects are reasonable, while others are mere pork; but even federal funding for a sensible project can be put off in light of the anticipated cost of bring New Orleans back to life.

Likewise, the suggestion that blogs could influence the decision makers [or influence those who influence the decision makers] is also on target, and for more than one reason. Collectively, weblogs do have the ability to inform, fact-check, refine arguments, and to persuade. This plan presents another benefit: different factions within the blogosphere could have a common objective. Liberal-leaning bloggers who would normally advocate increased federal funding for social programs might be on board with moving some money away from such programs -- temporarily -- in order to meet more pressing needs in Louisiana. I'm sure they would also want to protect certain services, and would sacrifice unnecessary and costly pork to ensure social programs stay funded. Bloggers to the right of center who naturally lean towards reduced federal spending could push for delaying or denying the funding of projects that threaten to ballon the ever-increasing deficit. Reducing the overall size and scope of the federal government would also be a motivation for conservative bloggers. Even non-partisan and single issue advocacy blogs could get involved. Want to ensure your program stays funded? Time to get on the bandwagon and strip the funding from obviously unnecessary pork projects in your state.

The goal would be the same for all groups: help [or force] Congress to re-assess spending priorities in light of the massive rebuilding necessary in southern Louisiana.

One more thing: which "Bridge to Nowhere" are we discussing? The Copper River Bridge? The Knik Arm crossing? The Gravina Access Project?

Alaska even has the "Last Train to Nowhere" -- a not-so-shrewd transportation initiative from the last century.

In fairness, I'm not sure if any federal money was spent on the repairs to the Copper River Bridge. And while I don't buy the rationale behind the Gravina Access Project, there are arguments for and against the Knik Arm crossing that seem reasonable at first glance. Having recently moved to Anchorage from Maryland, I haven't heard enough of the debate to form an opinion yet.

I do believe that in the wake of Katrina that Congress must re-prioritize, and no state or local project that receives federal funding should be exempted from the scrutiny. Let's hope the blogosphrere can have a positive impact.

Update: Saturday, 1:30pm ADT
Welcome Instapundit readers. I've been blogging for about 12 days now. I had 196 hits as of last night, in the ballpark of 500 today thanks to the Instalanche.

Update: Sunday morning
A little over 1,100 hits yesterday. Mister Snitch has some thoughts on the subject, too. 15 minutes, now back to obscurity. Heh, as they say.

Update: Sunday 2:15pm ADT
Some more folks are looking to differ federal funding ear-marked for their states, to help pay for the rebuilding of southern Louisiana. Jay Tea at Wizbang leads the charge. Impossible Scissors talks about suspending our race back to the moon. Stupid and Wrong wants to know who's calling to see those bridges and highways to nowhere scrapped. The Conjecturer believes that Rep. Tom "ongoing vicory" Delay has no shame. Elephant in Exile thinks the President should have called out some Congressmen and Congresswomen by name, specifically Rep. Don Young from here in Alaska. Division of Labour details some good things happening in Bozeman, Montana. And of course the Insta-dude has a great round-up of other blogs looking to cut the fat in the wake of Katrina, and some sound advice for Monday morning.

Update: Monday, 7pm ADT
W.H. Burney adds a link to the Pork Reports blog. Check it out.

Comments

The idea of a new brand of NIMBY in which voters demand a moratorium on federal projects in their own backyards is an appealing one.

But I frankly don't believe that a penny of federal money should be spent on rebuilding New Orleans beyond maintaining its historic district and possibly, the port. Even the latter could probably be more appropriately be moved to Baton Rouge.

The President says that he can't imagine an America without New Orleans. It's obvious that hurricanes, the Mississippi Delta, and Lake Pontchartrain have more vivid imaginations than the President. Eventually, their vision of a New Orleans turned into Atlantis will happen unless an unconscionable and inappropriate amount of deficit spending is undertaken.

By all means, federal dollars should be used to help people throughout the Gulf Coast resettle, find new jobs, receive job training, get medical care, and so on. But by no means, should the federal treasury be used to enable people to live in a below-sea-level city. If the people of New Orleans choose to live and work there, that's fine. But the rest of the country shouldn't have to foot the bill for what we now know is a reckless and irresponsible choice.

comment Posted by: Mark Daniels at September 17, 2005 11:53 AM

If it is reasonable to move to the port to Baton Rouge, then that would be a wise decision in my opinion. In that case, New Orleans would not be the first major city in human history to succumb to the environment, nor will it be the last.

I don't know much about ports and shipping, but if they can't relocate the entire port [e.g. if the largest vessels can't navigate to Baton Rouge] then there will have to be some infrastructure to support whatever stays in New Orleans. Schools, shopping centers, etc... I agree about not spending federal money simply to support folks living below sea-level.

comment Posted by: JP at September 17, 2005 01:57 PM

Hmmm, the president can't imagine America without New Orleans? Well, he doesn't have to, does he? It's too late to imagine anything. It's time to do something, and that something is trim that Fatty McBudget down! Excellent job, reporting this interesting info....

comment Posted by: Tyler at September 18, 2005 11:47 AM

Thanks for the link. I haven't posted yet but I have had more thoughts on this:

(1) I agree with those saying Federal money should not go to NO, beyond immediate relief money (I am for extending unemployment, too, since this goes so far beyond normal unemployment). I think the estimates of what rebuilding will cost the Feds will wind up among the great exaggerations of Katrina lore.

(2) I have come to realize that Porkbusters cannot work as designed. You can gather all the evidence you like at the local level, but cutting spending goes against the grain of self-interest, and no one will stick their neck out. Think about how government has been pared back in the past - you have to go back to Reagan. How did he do it? By appealing to the self-interest of the governors. He told them that whatever authority he cut from the Federal level would be handed to the states. This gave him a base of support - which he was not going to get from legislators whose pork he was chopping. Reynolds et al should have looked at the problem from this perspective. As it is, it's an interesting excercise which will fail.

Fortunately, as I said in (1), we probably won't spend the projected money (i.e., throw it down a Louisiana rathole). Private enterprise, sensing profits (rightly I think) are already rushing into the area. Handwringers are crying that Louisiana will therefore become all-white, but businesses' first priority is to get workers back. Look for low-income housing to become a priority in the New New Orleans.

comment Posted by: Mr. Snitch! at October 1, 2005 08:46 PM