3.4 million stimulus package to protect turtles

[clips]

Thoughts?....I think it is wasteful....3.4 million can be used for something alot more substantial. On the flip side tho, this isn\'t unusual. Back in jersey on interstate 78 near the berkely heights area, there are about two overpass bridges that are strickly dedicated for deers and other wildlife so that they won\'t have to cross the road. The top part of the bridge itself is just an extension of the wooded area, so that the animals won\'t feel nervous or freightened when they cross over.

I remember sitting in traffic and not knowing what was going on one time in jersey, only to find out that a family of canadian geese were crossing the road...so people do have a soft spot for wildlife and i can understand the argument....but 3.4 million?...i think that\'s a bit much.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/17/turtles.vs.taxpayers/index.html

[GmanJoe]

I have the best stimulous package right here. So shut up, clips.

[videoholic]

actually the deer crossing the street would do it either way.  Either weaving between cars r going over a bridge. I\'d rather have them go over the bridge.

Per the article, the turtles are also creating a safety issue for motorists.  For that reason, there is some justification for the project beyond "saving the turtles."
 
However, I don\'t understand why every project like this has to cost multi-millions.  It seems like every government funded construction project automatically shoots into the million dollar range no matter how small.  When was the last time you heard of a "Save the ______" project costing $75,000, $150,000 or $300,000?

[GmanJoe]

I say we create a cheaper alternative. Why do HUMANS have to be the one to move over for turtoises (article is stupid, BTW. Tortoises are the land loving half shells while turtles are the aquatic kind).

MY solution? Create Chinese made turtoise catapults. Torts come up to a particular road, they are crawling crawling and then WABANGBANGbangbang.......they are hurled through the air, over the cars and trucks and land on the other side of the road!

Whether they survive or not was NOT part of the request. They wanted to cross the road....well, they will, God Dammit.

That sounds like a 10 million dollar project.