"it’s one thing when government waste simply involves money. when the cost extends to human lives, the matter takes on a much greater magnitude of seriousness. a case in point is the infamous teton dam debacle in idaho. as cnn reports, the $100 million dam, built between 1972 and 1976, was intended to “provide irrigation, electricity, and (ironically) flood prevention for the thousands of people living in its 305-foot-tall shadow.” small leaks began to appear in the dam following its completion, which were initially downplayed in the self-congratulatory glow typically accompanying completion of government projects. before long though, the small cracks grew large enough to unleash 80 billion gallons of water that “eventually engulfed bulldozers and sent workmen fleeing in terror.” when all w"
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