[paraclete]

Nope. Usually it's because a crack allowed water in and the cycle of freeze, expand, thaw, freeze, expand, breaks up the asphalt.

obviously a failure to understand the mechanism, yes water is the problem but when it freezees it not only damages the asphault surface, ice expands and when it does it forces a hole in the foundation, if that is not fixed the hole will just reappear because the foundation in the spot is no longer solid

[talaniman]

It's the unwillingness to fund the maintenance of road bridges and infrastructure that's the problem, not the science. We see this all over the place as states have decreased revenue. Nobody has been watching as localities have been downgraded on their bond ratings and are facing budgetary shortfalls. 6 times in NJ for example, in the last 6 years.

[paraclete]

well the solution is more local taxes or accept the lower service level

[smoothy]

well the solution is more local taxes or accept the lower service level

The problem is the Liberals will want to exempt half the population for paying their fair share of this tax, like they have been exempted from paying their fair share of most of the other taxes already. And they will want to appropriate the taxes of the more wealthy areas to subsidize the less wealthy areas...

A problem that already exists with state and local taxes already.

THen we are back to the TRILLION DOLLAR "ObamaStimulous" package... exactly what was it spent on anyway? That would have replaced a LOT of bridges and fixed a LOT of other things... yet nobody can say what exactly all that money actually bought.

[paraclete]

Ok so you are saying you can't see any bang for your buck but these things are a matter of public record so you should be able to find it

[smoothy]

When the current administration is as transparent as the average Planet.. Surely you jest.

[talaniman]

The links were posted and how hard is it to click on a link and actually read what the states have posted? Building projects were a third of the recovery act. Tax cuts were another, as well as social programs.

Breakdown of Funding

[smoothy]

Social Programs = Welfare and handouts to people who didn't earn or pay for them.

I'm middle class, I didn't get a dime of a tax break, yet I am not exempt from any of the taxes the 49% are either.


The Unemployment funding? 99 weeks of welfare (unemployment benifits) so nobody has to try to get a job very hard for a few years?

[talaniman]

You mean McDonald's and Walmart workers who pay payroll taxes?

[smoothy]

You mean McDonald's and Walmart workers who pay payroll taxes?

None of them effectively actually pay any FEDERAL income taxes.. yet they get free stuff from the Federal Government the rest of us who actually pay higher Federal taxes than we should to pay otherwise.

[paraclete]

he means he wants to gripe because he didn't get any, but the day will come when he will wring his hands with glee at the thought of the other 49% who will be done down, such a shame he has to wait a long time

[talaniman]

They file a tax return and get a refund just like the rich guys who pay no taxes. Look at all the tax breaks Walmart gets and we are talking billions, yet the workers need food stamps. I mean give me a 10 year deal of no taxes. And the stuff they sell comes from even cheaper labor in third world countries under terrible conditions.

We have had this debate and its pointless.

[smoothy]

he means he wants to gripe because he didn't get any, but the day will come when he will wring his hands with glee at the thought of the other 49% who will be done down, such a shame he has to wait a long time

It means like everything else that eminates from this administration... its all, smoke, mirrors and false and misleading information.

I don't know anyone who got anything... I don't know anyone who did get anything... and I don't know anyone who's seen any of these so-called projects actually result in something tangible.

[smoothy]

They file a tax return and get a refund just like the rich guys who pay no taxes. Look at all the tax breaks Walmart gets and we are talking billions, yet the workers need food stamps. I mean give me a 10 year deal of no taxes. And the stuff they sell comes from even cheaper labor in third world countries under terrible conditions.

We have had this debate and its pointless.

They get more back than they pay in at the end of the year... result is not taxes paid. In fact they get MORE money back than they actually paid in... they are getting paid to not pay any taxes.

Its simple basic math. Johnny gives Uncle Sam 5 dollars, Uncle Sam gives Johnny back 7 dollars... in the end Uncle Sam has NONE of Johnny's money... and Johnny walks away with more than he started with, from people who didn't get their money back from Uncle Sam.

Its not hard to understand... some people just believe Johnny is owed something he never earned because he decided to hang out with delinquents, not study, eventually drop out of school... and play the victim card because nobody wants to hire a poorly educated drop out for a high paying job.

[paraclete]

Look you arn't the only ones with a zero sum gain but that's what taxation is about, you give now and maybe in the future you will get some, some just get it earlier than others. You are against a higher minimum wage but reality says all employers should be responsible and give their workers a fare share of the results. I hate this cannon fodder approach where half the population are ignored

[talaniman]

Mitt pays no taxes. He get an accountant to write stuff off, and he send the government a check for 13% of his income depending on how sharp his guy is and then goes to a island with a bank and visits his hidden money he pays no taxes on. Then he hops on a plane to some European country and visits that money, and he stops in Switzerland so his wife can visit her money, then he goes home to raid the pension fund of some small midwestern company that the whole town works at, gives the contracts to some overseas company and takes more loot to the island and pays no taxes.

The guys who worked at the company lose everything because the Burger King goes out of business because nobody's working and can't afford a burger because they got no money to support their lazy a$$es so the whole town collapses.

And then a character like you comes along and tells the lazy a$$es they should have worked harder, and it's their fault Mitt came and stole everything because HE earned it.

[paraclete]

well of course when did a right wing take responsibility for the failures of their leadershipno, rip off is the way to go, all the way to the bank

[tomder55]

The lefties here praise countries like Australia with high minimum wages while ignoring the obvious fact that these higher minimum wages promotes job loss when companies find it more economical to automate.
McDonald's orders 7,000 touchscreen kiosks to replace cashiers - Neowin
McDonalds Touch Interface Ordering System - YouTube
Will Robots Steal Your Job? - YouTube
Momentum Machines | The Next Industrial Revolution

[NeedKarma]

"Electronic menus that replace physical beings is nothing new. Microsoft has been pushing its touchscreen computer, the Surface, which has mostly been a big hit at Vegas casinos, hotels, and clubs"

[smoothy]

Look you arn't the only ones with a zero sum gain but that's what taxation is about, you give now and maybe in the future you will get some, some just get it earlier than others. You are against a higher minimum wage but reality says all employers should be responsible and give their workers a fare share of the results. I hate this cannon fodder approach where half the population are ignored

The point is 49% of the population not contributing a dime effectively right NOW in any Federal income taxes... yet they are still going to be sucking the system dry in the future too. That's why there are the deficits there are now... everyone doesn't pay their fair share.