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Brad Moran
Brad Moran
10 months ago

A big hurdle in rebuilding the Key bridge will be finding enough minority owned companies that can actually do the technical work. The I-5 stretch that collapsed in San Francisco in 1989 took five years to build, because every contractor either had to be owned by a minority, or used contractor companies that were politically acceptable. After the collapse, a call was out out to drop the minority guidelines and just get the job done. They did get dropped, and the double deck highway was replaced in around eight months if I remember correctly. Not sure where you are going to find an bridge engineering company owned by a trans Inuit handi capable furry in a wheelchair, but hey, thems the rules..

There is some positives out there. I live in Nebraska,and in 2019 we had record flooding that took out a power dam and around 75 bridges. Nebraska got the shit rebuilt in about a year. The power dam is still in pieces, but it was ready to be shut down anyway. Nebraska hires contractors who will get shit done.

BonnieBlue2A
BonnieBlue2A
10 months ago

I came across this interesting article a day after this podcast. It considers risk management questions regarding the container ship collision and Key bridge collapse. https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/03/baltimore-bridge-crash-risk-management-questions.html

Dan Maddalena
10 months ago

Jack,
I think the 70’s is too late for you to go back to. I was born in 57 and plan (not guaranteed) to live to at least 2047. I’m very much concerned not about me, but of my daughters. I think the 30’s is the best time to go back to. You have all the benefits of America from after the depression, WWII and on, dyeing about now, so you’d never have to see the collapse.

dakotaslim
dakotaslim
10 months ago

I think a quote from The Sun Also Rises illustrates what Jack mentioned several times during the podcast. “I did not care what it was all about. All I wanted to know was how to live in it. Maybe if you found out how to live in it you learned from that what it was all about”.

Frank Polk
Frank Polk
10 months ago

Long time listener and TSP member, first time commenting. Great show Jack you brought a tear to my eyes talking about America today. My grandfather volunteered to served in the Navy durning WWII as a black man in America and was very proud of serving which caused my two uncles to volunteer for the US Marines. I also served in the US Army after seeing how proud my grandfather was to serve even though he was assigned to being. Cook. But now days I don’t see the pride or honor of serving for the younger generation any more which is very sad to see. Keep doing what you’re doing. Thank you!