Quick - Get Me The Number To 911 !

Only In Michigan Is A Pothole A Crime

Is it entropy, karma or something else? Just a few days ago Sam Simon, co-creator of 'The Simpsons' died. Then I heard a TV report saying that, when it comes to potholes, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel wants drivers in his county to report them to 911. That made me think of a great Simpsons scene where Homer, in an emergency holler's "Quick - get me the number to 911 !". Typical Homer.

So what's the deal? I thought 911 was only for emergencys. Well Hackel did say, "If it's one (a pothole) that just blew somebody's tire out ... it's going to blow out somebody else's,". A real emergency in his eyes I guess.

Once a report about a dangerous or damaging pothole is made to 911, Macomb County's Department of Roads would assess and address the issue within an hour, Hackel pledged.

Still, what about the reason for the 911 service? Can't we get in trouble if we use it for reporting a pothole? Here's what the Michigan State Police had to say late Thursday. They sent out an alert which reads in part,

"Please, do not direct the public to tie up 911 lines to report potholes, period. Whether Macomb wants you to or not."

Didn't matter to Hackel. He stands behind his instructions to Macomb county drivers. But is he willing to stand behind bars? According to one source:

The number is intended for use in emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose ( such as prank calls ) can be a crime in over 98 percent of locations in the United States.

Is A Pothole A Crime?

What I am certain of is this; I consider it a crime that a duly hired Michigan Ledgislature did not and will not do the job they were hired and paid to do. That is, budget funds to provide safe - driveable roads for citizens. But don't call 911 to report that !
 

Reminder: Still no Plan B. Get a Bumper Sticker.

• (For a "Fix Our Roads" bumper sticker, go to the top of the page and click on the "Bumper Sticker" tab.)

Drive Careful,
Will

What Causes Potholes ?

Two Very Real Explanations Why Potholes Exist 

 

Even though you may live in a State - or a Country for that matter that is plagued by dangerous potholes, maybe you have wondered just why those things are there and why they seem to grow bigger and more populous each year.

Well wonder no longer because I am going to give the two the Actual Reasons why so many of us live with so many potholes, and just bad roads in general.

 

The first reason is a simple matter of weather and physics which I have explained on this blog in the past in "Reasons Our Roads Are Lousy" . And yesterday, the CBC News website for local Windsor readers has posted a very informative article with an interactive illustration you can use to understand one of the causes. It seems they are having this same problem we have here in Michigan. Go figure. You can click on the image to see it.

Interactive: How Potholes Form

If you visited the link above (thermometer is centigrade), you noticed that the interactive demonstration is actually quite simple and easy to understand. However do not be complacent and feel that this is the Only Explanation why we have potholes - So Many Potholes!

In reality there is one other very important reason for the explosion of the problem of potholes that seems to get worse every year - year in, year out. As I mentioned, I have discussed this before here and feel it is important that you be reminded, less you forget and think the reason will just go away. In fact this other reason really has a life of its own - It Will Not Go Away if we just leave it alone. No, action must be taken to force the reason to go away.

So what is the other, insidious reason for so many terrible potholes that seems to have a life of their own? The reason that must be dealt with soon, and with determination if we will ever make the Great State of Michigan a state of Great Roads?

It is this plain and simple truth: Michigan is littered with... 

Self-Centered Career Politicians With Only One Thought 

 

Yes it is true. This is a BIG one. When tough decisions need to be made to take money from corporate tax breaks, unnecessary programs, eliminate waste, or whatever - to plan ahead - to Really Fix our Infrastructure, our lawmakers in Lansing won't do anything that will jeopardize their chances of getting re-elected. But what about the average voter you may ask? Don't politicians care about us?

They seem to think so, after all they have put their confidence in us, the average voter to do their job. The one they have refused to do. The one they are apparently unwilling or incapable of doing. They have given US the job of fixing our roads. Michigan career politicians have shirked their responsibility and are forcing the issue on us in a May 5th ballot claiming if WE don't vote for it - a raise in our sales tax of nearly 12% - then our roads will simply not get fixed. They will only get worse. All because they are afraid to raise taxes themselves or do anything that will harm their chances of making a career out of politics.

"What Roads? What Potholes? Must Keep Job"

 

So remember the two reasons why we have potholes and lousy roads.
The scientific one, and the one that defies science and reason.

That's it for now. And as always...

Drive Careful

Will