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The bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently shows how important local, state and federal government cooperation is to bridge and tunnel safety. Bridge inspections over the last several years showed that the bridge was not safe. Yet, because the president of the United States and the governor of Minnesota refused to allocate money for bridge safety, the bridge in Minneapolis crumbled during rush hour. People died, many more were injured, and countless others are traumatized.

Imagine how it must feel to have a bridge crumble under your car and you have to crawl out of the car and up the collapsing bridge to safety. Imagine trying to help someone else and see that person slide down the collapsed bridge and into the water.

This tragedy may be a wake-up call. I hope so. The deaths and injures, both physical and psychological, are senseless. They were preventable.

The collapse of the bridge tragedy and a disgrace of national proportions.

Tunnel vision reigns. Politicians who say they want to save money by not funding bridge, tunnel, and road repair, actually divert public money to go to the rich. They do not see the bigger picture. Safe bridges, tunnels, roads, families, and communities are what it is all about. It is not about making the rich people richer. Public money is for the public. Public money is for public safety.

Cooperation at all levels of government is the way to go. Forget the clamoring of the greedy. Get the snouts of the hogs out of the trough. Let's care for each other.

Learn more about this author, Jane Gilgun.
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