The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. infrastructure a grade of “D” across the board

And it just wasn't in Kansas Originally Posted by Dawgs

And elsewhere ... but ....

... those were projects in the design/plan stage before Obaminable was crowned!

Speaking of "shovel ready" government work programs ...

.. is any one old enough to remember the Trinity River Canal Project?

Explain why Israel needs U.S. foreign aid? Originally Posted by SEE3772

Israel is America's strongest ally in the Middle East, and as such, deserves our unqualified support. Iran is an existential threat to Israel and must not get nukes!

local governments should fix the roads with local taxes..obama should have nothing to do with it...local need, local tax, local control. largest unit of government that should be involved is at the state level

for the feds to do anything would be similar to what obama's "stimulus" package was used for....rewarding profilgate state governments so they could keep unions employees on for one more year.. making responsible states share in the misery.

but ok the civil engineering society says "we need more civil engineering work" ? is that trustworthy news? sort of like government union members chanting "tax me more" (translation: tax the hell out of entreprenuers so there wont be any government union budget cuts)

local governments should fix the roads with local taxes..obama should have nothing to do with it

for the feds to do anything would be similar to what happened to his "stimulus" package....rewarding profilgate state governments so they could keep unions employees on for one more year.. making responsible states share in the misery.

but ok the civil engineering society says "we need more civil engineering work" ? is that trustworthy news? sort of like government union members chanting "tax me more" (translation: tax the hell out of entreprenuers so there wont be any government union budget cuts) Originally Posted by nevergaveitathought

its the states responsibility ...

and the states suck ..


http://www.theatlanticcities.com/com...ge-crisis/322/


but then again shit happens ..... shit we never see any results from

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8894520/...-highway-bill/

CBJ7 thinks the federal government is the only entity that can do anything for anyone, and should have the sole responsibility for the well-being of all of us. We should follow them blindly, like he does.

CBJ7 thinks the federal government is the only entity that can do anything for anyone, and should have the sole responsibility for the well-being of all of us. We should follow them blindly, like he does. Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

I say its the states responsibility and you say I think its the feds ?

too bad youre an idget

Israel is America's strongest ally in the Middle East, and as such, deserves our unqualified support. Originally Posted by Jewish Lawyer

I hope you don't use such weak circular meaningless arguments in your day job?

It was as relevant as saying 'America supports its allies'.

Whatever.

The question is, why is Israel an ally? What influence does America have over any long term peaceful agreement with Palestine? What impact does America's relationship with Israel have on US foreign policy and its relationships with other ME countries? Is israel the bulwark and bastion against the tide of Islam, or is it a contributory factor for the tide of Islam and hatred of US?

Maybe this needs another thread.

But please don;t insult us with your empty platitudes.

It was as relevant as saying 'America supports its allies'.

But please don;t insult us with your empty platitudes. Originally Posted by essence

Apparently one man's "platitudes" is another man's realities. The beginnings of that direct and longstanding relationship began in the initial stages of the Jewish people re-establishing themselves in the area that they contend was their "homeland" or their beginnings as a people. Since that time they have been surrounded and out numbered, although not yet "out-flanked" or "out-skilled" and we have continued to provide them assistance and "cover" as they have continued to thrive and build a strong and viable nation with which they can have an identity.

"We" had simillar assistance from other countries as we floundered and were surrounded.

More recently (in the last 12 - 15 years particularly) the Israelis have contributed substantially to our endeavors in the Middle East. They have done it "off the books" and "behind the scenes" and quietly without assuming credit for the assistance. In the several incursions into Iraq the Israelis already had people "on the ground" before the "allies" did and had people in place in the Northeastern corner of Iraq to interact and stabilize that area during the initial stages of the invasions ... plural. They had a self-interest, but were cooperating with us in that endeavor. That also provided specialized equipment that had to be "repainted" and "remarked" to avoid any issues with our Arab allies.

They have provided us intelligence and we have provided them with technology and information from our satelite network. They spy on us. We spy on them. Everyone looks at each other, even our friends and neighbors. It is normal....as in the norm.

For 70 plus years we have had the relationship. They have been loyal. One doesn't brush those kinds of relationships aside for temporary or momentary convenience or appearance. Sure we send a lot of money over there .... and it is one of the few places where we have sent money that they don't routinely burn our flags and burn our President's ..... or attempt to assassinate them. On the other hand there a lot of Jewish people in this country who pay a lot of taxes .... they are loyal to this country as well. And for the most part, aside from the "foreign aid" (which for the most part are long term loans that Israel pays back!) ... they buy shit ... they don't put their hands out begging .. like some others do ... the Jewish people in this country are not dependent upon our government for handouts, welfare, food stamps, etc., ... similar to the Mormons they tend to take care of their own .. with close knit families and community ties with their neighbors. They are a positive contribution to this country ...

their friends, family, and neighbors deserve our loyalty in return. They have earned it. By "cutting them loose" we send the wrong signal to other allies and potential allies. We have already done too much of that in the past 3 years.

they deserve it?

http://www.wrmea.org/archives/373-wa...3-billion.html

they deserve it? Originally Posted by CJ7

yes ... "their friends, family, and neighbors deserve our loyalty in return. They have earned it."

.... and it is one of the few places where we have sent money that they don't routinely burn our flags... Originally Posted by LexusLover

Circular (or upside down) arguments seem to be popular nowadays.

Have you wondered whether other countries burn the US flag BECAUSE the US send money to Israel? BECAUSE the US is a staunch ally of Israel?

I have no problems with the right to have an Israeli state, so long as there is also a Palestinian state, and Israel does not invade Palestine.

I just wish they could all get along, but I don't see much prospect of that in my lifetime.

our bridges are falling down and we pony up 180 LARGE to Israel because they deserve it and our own people dont?

got it

our bridges are falling down and we pony up 180 LARGE to Israel because they deserve it and our own people dont?

got it Originally Posted by CJ7

Israel pays it back .... and "our own people don't"!

Dont' read the headlines .... read the "fine print" for a change.

Have you wondered whether other countries burn the US flag BECAUSE the US send money to Israel? BECAUSE the US is a staunch ally of Israel? Originally Posted by essence

No. Because we send money to them .. and they don't pay it back!

Any port in a storm ... it's the fault of the U.S. government for supporting Israel.....

... it's the fault of the U.S. government for not banning a film.,......

....it's the fault of the U.S. government for ____________________ (fill in blank).

You want to know why they hate us ... and hate the Israelis .... ?

People all over this world burn our flag ... stomp on it ... burn our Presidents ... many are non-Arab ... and their governments are on the "gift-list" ... doesn't have a damn thing to do with us LOANING money to Israel.

People resent us because we have. Period. They've had a piece of land for 1,000's of years and for the most part, except where the "royalty" and government people live it's a shit hole .... bad water, bad sewage, bad food, bad housing, few jobs, and sorry ass education .... it stinks. We get a piece of land and in 200 years we have a "heaven on earth" ... rich, oil wells, big cars, great schools, great hospitals, a great country, and we are the strongest country in the world .... we are the haves ....

was it dropped on us from heaven .... hell no. We work our asses off ... and still do.

They blow shit up, burn it, piss on it, generally trash their own towns. Syria? They slaughter their own people, disrespect their women and children, they have nothing but a living hell .... and their "leaders" want them to continue hating the U.S. because the "leaders" are living in luxury off the $$$ we send to help their people.

Do you recall the way the Taliban leaders were living? Those in the Balkans. Same all over South America. The people think we just come there and take... because they do not see the oil money, they don't see the assistance, and they don't have a clue how hard we work over here to build what we have and what we share! But every friggin one of them would give their left nut to get here!

They hate us ... and that is what Obaminable "builds" on .... class warfare!!!!!

The no-haves vs. the haves ....

Cut from the same cloth!!! It is in his marrow, engrained, endoctrinated.

I want everyone around me to be successful. I want them to be content, I want them to be happy. That is not my responsibility. I will assist them if they pitch in a do for themselves at least as much as I do for them. But when they start "burning my flag" and "bitching about me behind my back" ... that's it! No mos.

If they have the time and energy to march on our embassies they have enough time and energy to clean the shit up off the streets, repair their bridges, improve their roads, build new schools, etc. They don't need our help.

The Israelis have taken the same dirt they have and practically made a paradise there (relatively speaking) and the Arabs don't like it cuz' it makes them look bad. They resent it. It makes their govenrment look incompetent and impotent ... which they are. They are pissed because they can't come over and work in Israel .... if they didn't blow the place up things might be different.

You want to save a bunch of money. Burn a flag. No money, no help, no nothing. Not even the time of day.

Israel pays it back .... and "our own people don't"!

Dont' read the headlines .... read the "fine print" for a change. Originally Posted by LexusLover

putting americans to work doesnt stimulate the econmy (in every aspect) and pay us back ?

theres something else I didnt know