[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Different Approaches

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Speed Gibson:
Different Approaches
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1186273512.shtml


   As too often happens in such events, there are two different
   approaches to assessing what happened to the I-35W bridge and what to
   do next. Generally, but with significant exceptions, these fall along
   political party lines.
   One side seeks facts, the other seeks blame. One side asks "what?" and
   the other asks "who?" One side seeks to learn from the experience, the
   other to profit from it. One side seeks new ideas for the future, the
   other just more from the past, even those known not to work.
   Like other such events, this collapse, too, humbles the human race. We
   are not yet the masters of our fate. Nothing we do is perfect. Nothing
   we build will last indefinitely, maintained or not. And unanticipated
   catastrophes will continue to happen, for reasons known and unknown.
   "A bridge in America just shouldn't fall down," said our new U.S.
   Senator Amy Klobuchar. True enough, they shouldn't, but from time to
   time, one of them does.
   There is no certainty. Every bridge in America has some probability of
   failure, very small, but never zero. Design, geography, climate, age,
   maintenance, contractors, building codes, materials, engineers,
   inspectors, and yes, even politicians are only some of the factors.
   The investigations are on. One group seeks facts, perhaps the most
   important being what the many inspections failed to detect. The other
   group seeks scalps, to promote and/or protect themselves before the
   electorate by tearing down others, even the innocent.
   We don't know what happened, what could have been done, or what should
   have been done. It will be months before we do, if ever. One thing we
   do know today is that the blame game won't build a better bridge next
   time.