FASCISM British Protest 15-Minute Cities Where They Will Become Prisoners of the State
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- Start date
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The ultimate plan is for regular folks to not live in rural areas.
That seems kinda clear, doesn't it?
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Mathematical Error?!!?
Building bridges!!??!!
And they're still on business?
Are you living PQ??
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Ames flyover bridge mistake could cost Minnesota contractor $800,000 in fines
The delay has expensive consequences.
www.kcci.com
AMES, Iowa (KCCI) —
A Minnesota-based contractor might have to pay more than $800,000 in fines or liquidated damages for a major construction error and subsequent delays in one of the state's largest and most expensive bridge projects.
KCCI first reported in July that the $23 million flyover bridge at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 30 has been delayed numerous times and had to be rebuilt after Iowa Department of Transportation officials discovered that each of the six piers and each of the ramps was built incorrectly.
The construction project, which was supposed to be finished by last fall, is one of the most visible Department of Transportation projects in the state, with an estimated 44,000 cars driving past it on Interstate 35 every day. The project may be delayed until late this summer because of the embarrassing construction mistake.
Construction of the flyover bridge project began in 2016. The bridge was designed to prevent major crashes that have happened over the years. But some of the tightly curved ramps are too tough to negotiate at high speeds, and trucks and cars end up running off the road.
According to plans, the bridge will carry northbound traffic from the interstate to westbound Highway 30 into Ames. The flyover bridge will eliminate one of the old cloverleaf exits.
Also:
Iowa DOT orders demo, rebuild of part of $23M bridge
Officials said the repairs that Minnowa Construction will have to pay for and make include correcting bridge piers and abutments.
This is why I don't have a lot of faith in the new construction in a freaking FLOOD PLAIN. It's just more stupidity.
I have a feeling that somehow, some of the same yahoos are involved.
Great Northwet
Veteran Member
I think the 15 minute city is a great idea if you are a grad student doing your Capstone Project so you can graduate from a good University. The problem is that all cities are different all over the world.
A 15 minute city would work perfectly in a place above a floodplain with a light rail connection to the city hub, airport, seaport, etc. It would never work in Seattle where there are 8 ways into the city-all by bridges-because there is so much water. Then there are all of the hills throughout. Oh and then we get earthquakes now and then which messes up the bridges.
The concept is good, but the reality is undoable. Just looking at the picture I'm not seeing the hills, drainage, powerlines, tall trees, etc. As another poster said: it's ugly.
A 15 minute city would work perfectly in a place above a floodplain with a light rail connection to the city hub, airport, seaport, etc. It would never work in Seattle where there are 8 ways into the city-all by bridges-because there is so much water. Then there are all of the hills throughout. Oh and then we get earthquakes now and then which messes up the bridges.
The concept is good, but the reality is undoable. Just looking at the picture I'm not seeing the hills, drainage, powerlines, tall trees, etc. As another poster said: it's ugly.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I would like to know how they're going to get us out of rural country into these cities. That might be their plan, but making it happen is questionable.
pauldingbabe
The Great Cat
How European of our overlords.
Never thought I would see roundabouts in the sticks but here we are.
Never thought I would see roundabouts in the sticks but here we are.
ShadowMan
Designated Grumpy Old Fart
Hmmmm....I thought them there roundabout thingies were just big speed bumps. Kinda fun to jump over.......GET ER DONE!!
pauldingbabe
The Great Cat
LoupGarou
Ancient Fuzzball
Most people (at least the newer transplants to rural-dom), once they stop power, fuel, comms, and commercial food flowing out to the hinterlands will start to really think hard about their rural position. A few of us will stick it out, and they have a plan that probably involves roving gangs, antifa, blm, or even the illegals to "keep us on our toes". Once the first few move to the cities "in high hopes" that they can continue living there, who knows who will move in to those vacant houses. And I don't think that they will want to have paying renters in them at first, so think more on the lines of squatters and ne'r-do-wells. Then think about all of the ones that groups like blackrock have already bought, taken off the market, kept empty and are in all sorts of places. Fill just 25% of them with the best ne'r-do-wells that money has to offer, and you can imagine the capabilities of things to go bad in those areas.
After all, it's not quartering of troops in your home... At least they are not "formally" anyone's "troops", and they are in the home next to yours (or down the street), not in your home, so no problem, right?...
Got good secure comms? Got good secure groups? Got good options? Don't ask yourself if you are resourceful, ask yourself if you are resourceful enough. It's coming time. GYSER!
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I had rather die here in my home where I'm free to live the way I want than to die in one of their cities totally under their control. I will not move.
end game
Veteran Member
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
china needs those rural areas to feed its useless eaters!
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
They're building those damned things all over the place here in Central Iowa, and they are dangerous. I see elderly people getting confused and they just shut down in the middle of the round about, and of course the drivers behind them aren't paying attention and kaboom!
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I have mixed feelings . . .
On the one hand, I despise globalism!
On the other hand, I can see the value of a limited number of neighborhoods where there are
doctors, dentists, grocery stores, etc., in a concentrated area. For example, I liked the mobile home
park where my grandparents lived: they could walk or take a golf cart to doctor appointments (across
the street from the park) or ride a 3-wheeled adult trike to the Publix, less than a block away.
That was great for them because they no longer drove. If they needed to go farther, my aunt had to
drive them, or they could take the bus. That also gave them a measure of independence.
There was nothing greenie-weenie about that, and a number of age 70+ retirees lived in that FL neighborhood.
Also, when I was finishing college, I lived in a small town where I was able to walk or bike most places, which saved money because I didn't need to pay for a car or car insurance.
However, all of the above were choices, not mandated by TPTB. That's the difference.
Added: I'm considering moving to a slightly larger area for my "retirement" where there is more within biking/walking distance, unless several more businesses move into town, which is possible. A hardware
and a closer drug store would greatly help.
On the one hand, I despise globalism!
On the other hand, I can see the value of a limited number of neighborhoods where there are
doctors, dentists, grocery stores, etc., in a concentrated area. For example, I liked the mobile home
park where my grandparents lived: they could walk or take a golf cart to doctor appointments (across
the street from the park) or ride a 3-wheeled adult trike to the Publix, less than a block away.
That was great for them because they no longer drove. If they needed to go farther, my aunt had to
drive them, or they could take the bus. That also gave them a measure of independence.
There was nothing greenie-weenie about that, and a number of age 70+ retirees lived in that FL neighborhood.
Also, when I was finishing college, I lived in a small town where I was able to walk or bike most places, which saved money because I didn't need to pay for a car or car insurance.
However, all of the above were choices, not mandated by TPTB. That's the difference.
Added: I'm considering moving to a slightly larger area for my "retirement" where there is more within biking/walking distance, unless several more businesses move into town, which is possible. A hardware
and a closer drug store would greatly help.
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Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yep.
And Medical Care, Pharmacy products, etc.
Convenience is King to most folks, and they can make it really inconvenient.
eta:
This thread details some inconvenience...
BRKG - Large-scale cyberattack impacting hospitals & healthcare in 5 states
Oh great. And we here have a current nurses' strike in one of our largest hospitals. Let me go look.
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Radar units won’t survive even a .22 round.
You’re confusing a privately run retirement community with a government run internment camp.
Be careful….
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
So, I wonder how many members here are already lining up to move into these cities for convenience's sake. I'm not one of them. I don't believe I'm the only one, either. You and Loup make it sound like there is no other option.
pauldingbabe
The Great Cat
I don't see the difference.
In some retirement communities here in GA (3 new subdivisions in my AO) you buy at the front of the sub. Then, as more care is needed, you move to the back of the subdivisions till your toes up. All the while taking your monthly check as well.
Then they sell all your assets and send your next of kin the bill for the remainder.
There is a nice new shopping center within a half mile of these new subdivisions and bike trails, sidewalks, pet parks, pool, eats....
<sigh>
That's the future. With roundabouts!
pauldingbabe
The Great Cat
Options? I guess it will depend on how much money you can pay a month.
I do love your "glass half full" attitude though! We might have options if we had more of this.
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
That's not my goal.
My goal is to point out that there is no low to which they will not go in their attempts to remake the World in their vision.
There will be hold outs, for sure. I expect that first convenience and then necessities will become more problematic for them - that is, Us!...
But, what is the trend in most Small Towns in the US today? Other than those that are now seeing a bit of a resurgence due to "Covid Lockdown Flight", the general trajectory has been one of falling populations, fewer economic options, and aging population. (These are generalities - no doubt exceptions can be found, such as the "Covid Lockdown Flight" mentioned earlier...)
TPTB seem to have signaled through their policies, papers and conferences a desire to centralize the people into dense centers - "15 minute cities" is just the latest example.
Maybe I'm wrong.
But I try hard to not allow Normalcy Bias to be my lens...
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
In my grandparent's park, the residents owned their mobile houses and paid lot rent. There was not an HOA (there might be, now). They were free to sell their trailer (if it stayed in the park, the residents had to be 55 or older).
At that time, the lot rent was reasonable: it paid for the property taxes and the upkeep of the roads. Homeowners maintained their own property (tiny lots that would be maintained with a good string trimmer or electric mower),
and people generally got along. There were busy-bodies but there weren't so many "Karens" like there are now.
I suspect today that there are a lot more Karens and other problems. Today's elders tend to fuss a lot more than my grandparents and their peers did.
I, personally, am not going to move into a 55+ community or similar situation, but I would like to continue living in a small house with more amenities within walking distance, without being right in the middle of a city to accomplish that.
At that time, the lot rent was reasonable: it paid for the property taxes and the upkeep of the roads. Homeowners maintained their own property (tiny lots that would be maintained with a good string trimmer or electric mower),
and people generally got along. There were busy-bodies but there weren't so many "Karens" like there are now.
I suspect today that there are a lot more Karens and other problems. Today's elders tend to fuss a lot more than my grandparents and their peers did.
I, personally, am not going to move into a 55+ community or similar situation, but I would like to continue living in a small house with more amenities within walking distance, without being right in the middle of a city to accomplish that.
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Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I'm not sure how old you are, but there's an appeal to some seniors, who are losing their ability to drive, to
live in an area where things are close together. Certainly, if I were in my 30s, there is no way I'd want to
live in such a potentially restrictive space.
It's just too bad that the Greenie-weenies and all their HOAs and other restrictive policies are getting in on
the act. The 55+ communities of old are rapidly turning into concentration camps. If you think I'm being a drama queen, look up some of the youtubes on what's been happening at the NC Villages, a golf-cart riding retirement community.
But the initial idea was very good . . .
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
If TPTB tried the "Build it and they will come" approach, no doubt they would have some success.
But they can't seem to resist the desire to command.
Who among us can look at today's big city, liberal, crime-ignoring environment and say to themselves, "Ohhh, I gotta have some of that!" So, in response to that fail, they begin to plan to demand.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
Certain sectors of society won't care, they like having someone else make all of the decisions for them.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I don't see the difference.
In some retirement communities here in GA (3 new subdivisions in my AO) you buy at the front of the sub. Then, as more care is needed, you move to the back of the subdivisions till your toes up. All the while taking your monthly check as well.
Then they sell all your assets and send your next of kin the bill for the remainder.
There is a nice new shopping center within a half mile of these new subdivisions and bike trails, sidewalks, pet parks, pool, eats....
<sigh>
That's the future. With roundabouts!
those are popping up all over the place here in Iowa. My first encounter with one was when we visited OC's aunt some 20 years ago now, she was living in such a place. It started out with "independent" senior living which was a nice two bedroom apartment, to something else, and finally the nursing home, then the cemetery. The whole place centered around a rec area that also had a coffee shop, cafeteria, small store with a pharmacy, etc.
No thank you!
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Too damned old. (for the current Zeitgeist that is...)
And, hope to get much older.
The temptation, desire, or genetic propensity to rule over others seems irresistible to many. I've been very lucky in the Sub where I live, that it's a good group of folks and the 'Rules' are lightly enforced, and could even be rescinded if necessary. But like I said, it's a good group of folks...
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Even in our little rural farming community, we have a convenience store and a gas station that doubles as a restaurant/made to order meals, a walk-in health clinic, a volunteer fire station, a community center, and a Dollar General all centrally located within 15 minutes from my house. The only major problem I see is that we're more than 15 minutes away from a major medical facility. Both retired, so no need to go anywhere to work. Most of our shopping, other than groceries, is done online.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I mostly agree with you! And it's not something I would buy into, especially the one in Ankeny.
However, there is one advantage: if one has a late-70s widowed parent who is just not coping and
is still somewhat independent but starting to make very poor choices, there is some validity to
them living in a condo or senior apartment where there are bonded and insured "helpers" on site.
That happened to a friend. In the old days, the children could've taken turns taking "mom" into
their homes and caring for her. In this case, the mom in question was developing a number of cognitive
issues, plus was not able to handle the finances or house/car maintenance at all (DH did everything and
died suddenly). She was on the verge of losing her house. My friend and the other sibs got her a senior
apartment in Ankeny. It's been a blessing for them and for the mom. There would've been far too many
fights if they had taken her into their homes. She also maintains some independence in a "safe" environment.
There is a place for these sorts of communities.
Tristan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Normal humans tend to think in terms of a few years. Many think in much shorter timeframes, of course... Exceptions exist, of course!
Parties can think and plan in terms of Generations. If they so choose, of course...
I've seen a few communities as you describe in the not too distant past essentially dry up when the Grocery's owners got old and retired, the gas station couldn't afford to meet new regulations, and the local Dr. either retired or had to move to make a living.
I sincerely hope your community, and all the others that still exist, avoid that situation.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
If you see any projects with the name SNC-Lavalin attached in any way, be very wary.Ames flyover bridge mistake could cost Minnesota contractor $800,000 in fines
The delay has expensive consequences.
AMES, Iowa (KCCI) —
A Minnesota-based contractor might have to pay more than $800,000 in fines or liquidated damages for a major construction error and subsequent delays in one of the state's largest and most expensive bridge projects.
KCCI first reported in July that the $23 million flyover bridge at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 30 has been delayed numerous times and had to be rebuilt after Iowa Department of Transportation officials discovered that each of the six piers and each of the ramps was built incorrectly.
The construction project, which was supposed to be finished by last fall, is one of the most visible Department of Transportation projects in the state, with an estimated 44,000 cars driving past it on Interstate 35 every day. The project may be delayed until late this summer because of the embarrassing construction mistake.
Construction of the flyover bridge project began in 2016. The bridge was designed to prevent major crashes that have happened over the years. But some of the tightly curved ramps are too tough to negotiate at high speeds, and trucks and cars end up running off the road.
According to plans, the bridge will carry northbound traffic from the interstate to westbound Highway 30 into Ames. The flyover bridge will eliminate one of the old cloverleaf exits.
Also:
Iowa DOT orders demo, rebuild of part of $23M bridge
Officials said the repairs that Minnowa Construction will have to pay for and make include correcting bridge piers and abutments.www.constructiondive.com
This is why I don't have a lot of faith in the new construction in a freaking FLOOD PLAIN. It's just more stupidity.
I have a feeling that somehow, some of the same yahoos are involved.
They are an old PQ firm of engineers & constructors who, by virtue of significant contributions (aka Graft) have become the de facto preferred vendor for PQ or Kanadian-Federal projects.
Sued many times for a variety of failures
PghPanther
Has No Life - Lives on TB
hehe.....I got them beat by 10 mins in all directions.
Yup for the past 3 years I've never needed to go any further than 4 miles from home base to do what I need to do......scary when you think I'm not forced to do that but ends up that way.
For now............
Yup for the past 3 years I've never needed to go any further than 4 miles from home base to do what I need to do......scary when you think I'm not forced to do that but ends up that way.
For now............
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
Outside of doctors appointments with a specialist in Des Moines, this is pretty much the same thing for me with the exception of it's more likely less than two miles from home base to whatever it is I need to do. Hospital is nine blocks away, Aldi a half mile, Sam's Club about two miles and everything else is in between those places, including a public library and city hall. I guess the farm store is the furthest away at around four or so miles.
And this is by choice, it's NOT a mandate given by the gov't!
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
That's why your area is so attractive to many retirees, and I've frequently recommended it to younger people who want to live with roommates, work at Target, and not own a car. Landlords will rent to them.
There's a ton of things to love about your area!
My two problems with your city at the moment: the high property taxes (and reform might be in the offing) and the high density of students because of the university. I don't miss that at all! I lived in Columbus (OH) for 17 years. It was great to get some respite from the Little Darlings. I've reached the end of my patience for their nonsense.
Where I am, the average age is 45, and people tend to go to bed at decent hours, except Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, but even then, things tend to settle down by 11:00 pm.
I can live with that. It sure beats long fall weekends of endless loud parties and a few riots thrown for good measure. Ugh! (Added: I know that there are places to live away from the campus area, but it's a large enough school and small enough city that it's hard to get away from the students, unless one lives over in Boone, which is rapidly getting very pricey.)
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packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
Mostly grad and vet students in my area, with a few nursing students. For the most part it's older adults with no children, who work for the city, DOT, or USDA, and a couple that work at the university. We don't see mindless parties or riots in my part of town anymore, Praise God!