We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.

I stumbled across this story at EducationWonk, and I am surprised it hasn't garnered more attention. The proposed bridge would be "nearly as long as the Golden Gate Bridge and high enough for cruise ships to pass underneath". It will run from Ketchikan, Alaska (pop. 14,500) to Gravina Island (pop. 50).

Read that again.

This cannot be for real.

Wait, consider this mitigating fact before you pass judgement: Gravina Island does have a small airport, which has six passenger flights most days, a few more during the tourist season. And the ferry that currently runs between the two towns is getting crowded - some reports put it at up to half full. Clearly relief is needed.

Maybe you'd like to drive up to Alaska and see this bridge when it is done? See what your tax dollar hath wrought? Um, no. You can't. You see, neither end of the bridge goes anywhere. The "civilized" side, Ketchikan, isn't even connected to the North American road system. If you go more than 10 miles from town, the roads dead-end in the woods. You can't get there from here.

$223 million worth of federal funds earmarked to this pig in the $286.4 billion federal highway and mass transit bill that Congress sent to the White House a little more than a week ago. Isn't there a major political party in this country that claims to be for smaller government? And doesn't that party control the House, Senate, and Oval Office? What the hell is it going to take to trim the pork around here?

Apparently John Stossel talked about this in January, and Alaska's House Representative Don Young (R-AK), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has taken some heat in some quarters. It just wasn't enough. And don't expect to see the President veto the bill. Kiss that money goodbye, and enjoy the bridge.