Infrastructure?

I recently bloviated this past Monday about much-needed national infrastructure, indicating that we are sacrificing our infrastructure for phony, poorly-run, bloated and inefficient social programs whilst, at the same time, not only packing in more people (in terms of illegal immigrants), but failing to properly inspect, maintain and expand our refineries, power generation stations, water capacity, reservoirs, dams, sewer systems, roadways, etc. I wrote that we are, essentially, sacrificing the many for the few.

At the time of its writing, I had forgotten that Governor Schwarzennegger signed (October, 2006) into law AB 32, which "commits the state to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 25% by 2020."

On its face, not terribly offensive, neh? But further:

In a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, Jim Repman, President and CEO of the California Portland Cement Co., says, "AB 32 will hurt California's efforts to rebuild its crumbling infrastructure." He adds that AB 32 recognizes that regulatory obstacles may impede greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, but fails to address any of these problems.

He also cautions, "California's population is forecast to grow by at least 21% between now and 2020, which will require more electricity and transportation. We must find a way to meet these needs."

He continues, "Corporate executives will have tough decisions when answering to their Boards of Directors about the viability and prudence of making significant new investments in California in many industries including cement manufacturing.

What's the big deal? you may ask. Fornicalia Senator Tom McClintock explains:

The Governor’s crusade against “greenhouse gases” is, in fact, the single greatest impediment to the era of public works that he has promised, and the crusade for public works construction is the biggest impediment to reducing “greenhouse gases” that he has promised.

To understand the dilemma requires a quick recap of the chemistry lecture that Gov. Schwarzenegger apparently missed. Highways, dams, levees and aqueducts require prodigious amounts of concrete, the central ingredient of which is cement. Cement is manufactured by superheating limestone to produce a compound called “clinker,” which is about two-thirds of the rock’s original weight. The missing third of that weight is carbon dioxide. Lots of carbon dioxide. In fact, cement production is the third biggest contributor of “greenhouse gases” in all human activity, ranking only behind internal combustion and deforestation.

And now the farce begins. Schwarzenegger’s AB 32 declares carbon dioxide to be the premier environmental hazard of our era. California’s Environmental Quality Act requires that any project that degrades the environment must include plans to mitigate that damage.

But wait, folks, here's the piece de resistance via a McClintock Logic Bomb:

Earlier this month, Attorney General Jerry Brown (yes, Fornicalia citizens actually elected this 70's Reject as AG last year. - BZ) used AB 32 to sue San Bernardino County and threaten San Joaquin County on the grounds that their transportation plans fail to explain how they plan to construct or operate highways without increasing carbon dioxide emissions. In short, the counties cannot proceed with construction until they can demonstrate that the highways can be built without earthmovers or concrete and that, once completed, no one will use them.

Ever eager to help, Brown has suggested that the counties re-think their plans for highway construction and shift the money into mass transit, bus, bicycle and pedestrian projects instead. It’s a good bet that’s where most of the highway bonds will end up.

The remaining funds for dams, levees, aqueducts, schools and housing will no doubt be sidetracked into similar new-age boondoggles. Indeed, legislative plans are already afoot to divert money from Prop. 84 (the water and flood control bond) for bike trails, museums, aquariums, a “water trail” for “human powered boats” and “water accessible overnight accommodations” at Lake Tahoe.

This is Jerry Brown’s dream come true. As Governor in the 1970’s, Brown cancelled the state’s aggressive public works plans, condemning our generation to chronic shortages of highway capacity, water, electricity and housing.

Yes, you read it here first.

Fornicalia is horribly suffering from aged, dilapidated, overused, constrictive roadway and other forms of infrastructure requiring concrete. But now, because of AB 32, Fornicalia can't build with traditional concrete.

I guess we'll have to learn to build our roads and dams with the methane and shit emitted from Demorats' asses.

Good fucking luck, I say.

And you wonder why I live 79 miles from Sacramento, the Fornicalia seat of government?

BZ

P.S.

Thanks to my brother Don for the insight.