Richland-Wilkin Joint Powers Authority
Original Publication Date:
March 27th, 2014
Wahpeton Daily News
Republished with permission from:
Lynn Larsen, Christine, N.D.
So where are they going to get the money for the F-M Diversion project? With our federal government fighting for pennies, Fargo is asking for $2 billion to protect flood prone areas.
It is time for the people of North Dakota to look at this closely. There are disaster issues that affect more people than our floods. Yes, when the water is pouring in your basement it is by far the most important thing in your life. But, how many people have experienced this? Then compare that to how many people are harmed by hurricanes, wild fires, tornados and earthquakes.
North Dakota has only one federal Representative and two Senators. This is the fewest allowed by the Constitution. Although we are important by providing the nation with food and fuel, our voting power is small in the federal government.
Our national debt is huge. Look at the many websites that show the growth of our debt and think about how much will have to be borrowed for this project. What are the odds the project, which has very little effect on the rest of the United States, will be able to muscle its way into the budget. Or, maybe the diversion project will be approved but never funded. That will leave the people of North Dakota and Minnesota footing the bill for millions of dollars to provide nothing. Each time you buy something you are throwing money at a project that is over-built, under-studied and will go down in history as a huge boondoggle.
Lastly, be careful of what politicians promise in an election year.
What was that old commercial?
“Promise her anything but give her perfume?”
We may want to believe the promises, but please take a long, hard, cold look at the financials.
If Fargo is in effect buying votes by unwise use of funds, what are we going to get in the end?
A lot of debt and nothing to show for it.
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