 By Don Hoff Jr. November 26, 2005
In politics, you win some and you lose some. But you are dead wrong about these pork-barrel projects. Ketchikan doesn't need a bridge to Gravina Island via Pennock Island. Fifteen families or more actually live on Gravina Island. The proposed bridge in Ketchikan is a national joke for a reason. $315 million dollars of American (transportation) tax dollars would be wasted on a bridge so a few opulent people can drive over to their properties on Pennock and Gravina Island. It is a ludicrous idea to waste that money that can be better spent in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for hurricane victims to rebuild their bridges and roads. As a taxpayer, that is where I want my taxes to go to help hurricane victims that don't have jobs and homes. Some citizens in Ketchikan are going to try or launch a "Save Our Bridge" public relations blitz. What a waste of time, effort and tax payer dollars. Trying to convince Railbelt State Legislators it's not a bridge to nowhere. It is the fault of the local leadership and a few citizens in Ketchikan that should be blamed for their funding priorities. They should have been asking for funds to clean up the drinking water that I allege is causing cancer in all Ketchikan residents or plan a hard link to British Columbia to get to the lower 48 to open up economic development. Look at the all the money the Local Governments and State of Alaska wasted - millions trying to ram a bridge down your throats. Who is accountable for that tax money wasted? What I don't understand is why Congress is allowing the funding of $452 million dollars for the two bridges to stay in Alaska as long as that money isn't earmarked for bridges? I thought we were supposed to trim the fat from the pork barrel spending in the Transportation Bill? In closing, don't waste anymore of our tax dollars on worthless projects like a bridge to nowhere. For those so stead fast to drive over a bridge, there are plenty of bridges in the lower 48 you can drive over all you want. Drive over bridges all day long if you want too. This is my own indigenous opinion. Don Hoff Jr. aka Aan Kadax
Tseen
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