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Interesting how it takes death to effect policy change?

In the past two years, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota twice vetoed legislation to raise the state's gas tax to pay for transportation needs. Now, with at least five people dead in the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge here, Mr. Pawlenty, a Republican, appears to have had a change of heart.

"He's open to that," Brian McClung, a spokesman for the governor, said Monday of a higher gas tax. "He believes we need to do everything we can to address this situation and the extraordinary costs."

It's sickening, actually, to think that in the richest country in the world, we still have bridges collapsing and infrastructure crumbling because of the mantra, "It's your money...don't give it to the government." But the government is us. It's a tool to be used...neither good nor bad. And when we don't take care of that tool, it's no longer useful...and people die because of it.

And yet, this president continues to rail against taxes:

Mr. Bush, speaking briefly after a meeting with his economic team, threatened to veto any tax increases passed by Congress in the federal budget.

"I recognize the Democrats control the Congress and with it the power of the purse," he said. "I also have some power, and it's called the veto. And I have the votes in Congress to sustain vetoes. And therefore I will use the veto to keep your taxes low and to keep federal spending under control."

Innocent drivers just died from the bridge collapse because the people weren't willing to fund it's proper upkeep. And our president keeps blathering about how taxes are bad and how he's going to keep spending down.

This is what happens when you put people in charge who are committed to dismantling the very government they've been entrusted to take care of.

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