Bridge falls into Mississippi river

It's especially stupid since inspections of every bridge interstate bridge in the nation (maybe all bridges period, I forget) are federally mandated to occur at least every 2 years. So it's not like the 20,000 have been ignored.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Not really. Our Highway divisions are terribly underfunded. Maintenance schedules are quite regular and the most critical stuff is done first. This accident was a fluke, not something predictable.

Also, you forget: If they DID shut the bridge down for a few months to repair it, people would've bitched then too. These people are unsatistfiable.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The work is usually done by private contractors overseen and assigned by the state paid with federal funds. It's a convoluted system, but there are purposes for all of it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Jammer: In Michigan, it's understandable, though. With the lakes as they are, we go through weather cycles of freeze/thaw that wear our roads faster than any other state out there, bar none. It's near-impossible to keep stuff properly maintained here. My father works rather high up in bridge design for the state, and it's a constant battle to be able to get done what needs to with the limited funds available (especially since the Senate seems to be of the "refuse to do anything and blame it all on Granholm" camp)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?