hawkeye: I almost posted a link to that Dr. Mielke post from "All Politics is Local", too. Glad you beat me to the punch.
It is a must read for any voter in Clark County.
This is the guy who claimed that mental illness can be cured through "tough love." I love the way he spouts off anecdotal information as evidence.
His response in the audio when Steve Stuart asked him what performance indicators he would be using to evaluate Benton's success in the job is another priceless piece.
This guy wouldn't know best practices evidence from baloney, yet we trust him to run out county government. Well, not all of us, thankfully.
timerick: Thanks for the lunch invite and for hosting the event for Vets on Monday. My husband, a VietNam vet, ran into a WWII vet today in an elevator, both Navy. It was fun to eavesdrop on the conversation, which extended nearly an hour after the elevator had stopped.
nailingit: The Huffington Post and the New York Times have already written articles about Washington's bridges. The entire country is focusing their microscope on us and how we handle the infrastructure needs, including the CRC.
We are not the only state with these issues, but we could show others how it needs to be remediated.
roger @ 8:03 am: Good points. Maybe the legislature is going to have to prioritize and re-distribute precious and dwindling funds, just like we do when we have a surprise major failure in our homes or autos.
hawk @ 6:41 am: There will always be free choice. I don't intend to get rid of my little biodiesel auto if LR comes over here. I do need to get to places that are not accessible by public transit.
Consumers will decide for themselves. Some will certainly choose to pay the tolls and sit in traffic. Maybe they have money to burn and time to spare.
Some will decide that purchasing a monthly pass for LR and public transit is a more efficient and affordable way to get to Portland and environs.
Hooray for freedom of choice. I want the option. And, yes, I am one of the crazies who are willing to pay for it. Tax me. Please. Public services and safety do not run on air and good intentions. :)
kn_dalai @ 9:49 PM: Some people call it social engineering. Others call it evidence-based community planning that puts the general public good ahead of individual preferences and (bad) habit. :)
How 'bout we start determining critical medical diagnosis, treatment, and care based on public opinion?
Good to see you back here, by the way. Don't be such a stranger....:)
David, my favored son and loyal servant, you must obey My command and heed My warning! The same fate awaits the bridge over the Columbia! Build a new one NOW! And, by the way, don't forget Light Rail, my preferred electric chariot! I will be watching and taking notes on how you do! Ignore my warning and I will strip your crown of jewels and replace them with coal.
Love 'ya!
God
______________
Some zealots blame God for a variety of unfortunate disasters, natural and manmade, don't they? Wasn't the "scourge" of same-sex marriage responsible for the Minnesota bridge failure? :))) I think that was also responsible for a variety of earthquakes and hurricanes.
Again, glad the victims are alive and recovering physically from last night's bridge collapse.
I am glad that the WA legislature is still in its special session.
nailingit: I think it is important to ask those types of questions in light of this unexpected bridge failure. We all should be demanding our legislators to stop their ridiculous bickering and find a way to support infrastructure development and repair. And yes, that means a new bridge across the Columbia. Can you imagine what that accident would look like here?
One would have to be brain dead not to be thinking, "What if....." or "How can we avoid this in the future?" It is perfectly reasonable and anyone who acts like it is not, is in dangerous denial.
So glad to hear that they have pulled three survivors from the river. I truly hope they are OK and that there are no others.
Open forum, May 20-26
hawkeye: I almost posted a link to that Dr. Mielke post from "All Politics is Local", too. Glad you beat me to the punch.
It is a must read for any voter in Clark County.
This is the guy who claimed that mental illness can be cured through "tough love." I love the way he spouts off anecdotal information as evidence.
His response in the audio when Steve Stuart asked him what performance indicators he would be using to evaluate Benton's success in the job is another priceless piece.
This guy wouldn't know best practices evidence from baloney, yet we trust him to run out county government. Well, not all of us, thankfully.
May 25, 2013 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
Our infrastructure report card for 2013:
[link text][1]
[1]: http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org
May 25, 2013 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
timerick: Thanks for the lunch invite and for hosting the event for Vets on Monday. My husband, a VietNam vet, ran into a WWII vet today in an elevator, both Navy. It was fun to eavesdrop on the conversation, which extended nearly an hour after the elevator had stopped.
nailingit: The Huffington Post and the New York Times have already written articles about Washington's bridges. The entire country is focusing their microscope on us and how we handle the infrastructure needs, including the CRC.
We are not the only state with these issues, but we could show others how it needs to be remediated.
May 24, 2013 at 7:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
More details about the truck that hit the bridge. Canadian company heading to Vancouver WA with its load:
[link text][1]
[1]: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/viewa...
May 24, 2013 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
roger @ 8:03 am: Good points. Maybe the legislature is going to have to prioritize and re-distribute precious and dwindling funds, just like we do when we have a surprise major failure in our homes or autos.
May 24, 2013 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
hawk @ 6:41 am: There will always be free choice. I don't intend to get rid of my little biodiesel auto if LR comes over here. I do need to get to places that are not accessible by public transit.
Consumers will decide for themselves. Some will certainly choose to pay the tolls and sit in traffic. Maybe they have money to burn and time to spare.
Some will decide that purchasing a monthly pass for LR and public transit is a more efficient and affordable way to get to Portland and environs.
Hooray for freedom of choice. I want the option. And, yes, I am one of the crazies who are willing to pay for it. Tax me. Please. Public services and safety do not run on air and good intentions. :)
May 24, 2013 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
kn_dalai @ 9:49 PM: Some people call it social engineering. Others call it evidence-based community planning that puts the general public good ahead of individual preferences and (bad) habit. :)
How 'bout we start determining critical medical diagnosis, treatment, and care based on public opinion?
Good to see you back here, by the way. Don't be such a stranger....:)
May 24, 2013 at 5:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
Dear Commissioner Madore:
David, my favored son and loyal servant, you must obey My command and heed My warning! The same fate awaits the bridge over the Columbia! Build a new one NOW! And, by the way, don't forget Light Rail, my preferred electric chariot! I will be watching and taking notes on how you do! Ignore my warning and I will strip your crown of jewels and replace them with coal.
Love 'ya!
God
______________
Some zealots blame God for a variety of unfortunate disasters, natural and manmade, don't they? Wasn't the "scourge" of same-sex marriage responsible for the Minnesota bridge failure? :))) I think that was also responsible for a variety of earthquakes and hurricanes.
Again, glad the victims are alive and recovering physically from last night's bridge collapse.
I am glad that the WA legislature is still in its special session.
May 24, 2013 at 5:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
nailingit: I think it is important to ask those types of questions in light of this unexpected bridge failure. We all should be demanding our legislators to stop their ridiculous bickering and find a way to support infrastructure development and repair. And yes, that means a new bridge across the Columbia. Can you imagine what that accident would look like here?
One would have to be brain dead not to be thinking, "What if....." or "How can we avoid this in the future?" It is perfectly reasonable and anyone who acts like it is not, is in dangerous denial.
So glad to hear that they have pulled three survivors from the river. I truly hope they are OK and that there are no others.
May 23, 2013 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Open forum, May 20-26
NWCN, Channel 49, is covering this story well now. 71,000 cars pass over this bridge daily.
May 23, 2013 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )