Friday's Rant: Bailouts

You wanna know what's pissing me off? Bailouts. Everywhere I look somebody or something is getting bailed out because they're greedy, dumb or both - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, credit cards, insurance companies, the entire banking industry, homeowners and now automakers. Insanity!

I hate to sound like a Dad, but nobody will learn anything if there aren't any consequences for the poor choices they've made. It's really that simple.

It appears that this obsession with bailouts has found its way down to even toll bridges. Yes, toll bridges.

I grew up in Glenwood, a small town in southwest Iowa right about where the Platte River empties into the Missouri River. Right across the river is, aptly named, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Joining the two communities is probably the oldest, nastiest, rottenist, rustiest old pile of scrap metal toll bridge you'll ever find - either side of the Missouri River.

Built around 1930, this bridge has been extorting people ever since. No doubt this bridge has collected tens of zillions of dollars over the past 80 or so years. $1 per car, no exceptions. Somewhere in Mexico, right now, there is probably a rich toll bridge baron, sipping on a pina colada and living off his Plattsmouth toll bridge trust fund. He's probably a Republican, too.

Well, guess who got "bailed out?" This rotten old bridge. Earlier this year, they closed down this bridge and our Federal Government spent 3.2 million dollars repairing it - including the addition of ornamental lighting. Dazzling!

In this day and age of bailouts in the hundreds of billions and trillions of dollars, I admit, $3.2 million is chicken feed. But do you want to know the dirty little secret? It's still a toll bridge! Yep. We pay to cross it, pay more to fix it and when they're done, keep on paying. Although the bridge has been transfered to "public hands," it "will continue to collect tolls to generate money for future maintenance, insurance and engineering inspections."

What the...?

Friends and neighbors, I'll be the first person to tell you, there is absolutely no good reason for anyone to ever go to Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Save yourself a buck and go to Pacific Junction. But regardless, this is crap. How long is it going to be before people stand up, yell, holler, scream - whatever - STOP this insanity! Oh wait, the only people who would do this are too busy working and paying taxes so everybody else can get a bailout. You-are-welcome.

Breathe in, breathe out...this week's rant is over.