Recent comments in /f/news

Catssonova t1_jc59lt7 wrote

Reply to comment by illiter-it in U.S. government agencies may have been double billed for projects in Wuhan, China, records indicate; probe launched by Jamalginsbergback

To be honest, knowing that all Rand Paul cared about in his 2016 election was auditing the entire government (supposedly) it would have been tempting to vote for him even as a republican vs a third party candidate like I did. He was significantly a more closeted asshole at those times. I don't give him the light of day anymore.

8

calm_chowder t1_jc57d8v wrote

Reply to comment by Flimsy-Lie-1471 in In Truth or Consequences, N.M., leaking pipes cause millions of gallons of water to go down the drain amid drought by Thetimmybaby

Because most of this infrastructure was built in the 50s and 60s when the government actually had money to spend due to a 75% corporate/millionaire tax rate and invested it in infrastructure and improving life for Americans. It's impossible to make this infrastructure indestructible and it was always meant to be maintained or failures are unavoidable.

Unfortunately Republicans (esp Reagan) gutted the government's income (by slashing corporate and the obscenely rich's tax rate to near zero), deregulated everything, ended infrastructure maintenance as "wasteful government spending" and basically sabotaged the future of our country. Things will only get worse as infrastructure is more and more stressed and out of date/neglected and the climate changes.

These accidents are becoming more and more common and that trend will continue, and as other countries keep pace with modernization the US will fall comparatively further and further behind until in many ways we're no longer a first world nation, at least in comparison to all others. It's inevitable with the path we're on, which shows no signs of or even avenues for changing. In fact in almost every single respect we're already dead last on every single metric of first world nations.

2

Remote_Bumblebee2240 t1_jc567o8 wrote

Reply to comment by vlsdo in Threat on United Airlines plane shuts down Vermont airport by Thetimmybaby

Manchester NH isn't too far. There's also a very small one gate airport in Lebanon NH. The plane seats 9 and if there isn't a co pilot, you get to sit in the front!! 11/10.

Funny story:

I arrived in West Lebanon and they literally just shove your bags through a window in the side of the building, so you know pretty quick if your luggage didn't make the connection. Mine didn't so I asked the guy unloading the luggage if there was anything else cause mine wasn't there. In a very classic gruff New England style he kinda barked "you gotta talk to the guy at the front desk". So I went to the *only desk and waited.

I shit you not, a few moments later THE SAME GUY walked up to the counter, pulled off his hat, and said "now, how can I help you?"

I'm still laughing years later.

14