LETTER: No money? No bridge

A drug addict has more fiscal self-control than people seeing an opportunity to spend public money. The citizens and taxpayers of Walton County do not have the money for the bridge. Is it that complicated? 

An economic disaster sits 10 miles west of the 331 bridge called the Mid-Bay Bridge. They even have a Mid-Bay Bridge Authority with telephones, computers, offices, staff and workers. They have the authority granted by the state to lose massive amounts of money annually. All financed in the name of "oh my God, what if there is a Category 5 hurricane and everyone is too ignorant to leave until the day before?"

After losing millions of dollars annually since opening, the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority was punished by being allowed to flush another $25 million down the drain on a useless extension. 

There is no extra money in Walton County — zero, nada, zilch. In Walton County many citizens live on dirt roads. Until last year, kids went to school in trailers in South Walton.  Abandoned and foreclosed homes are all over the place.  Can we just say STOP? 

Again, is it that complicated or much like the drug addict are we that far in denial? 

Jay P. McMahan

Santa Rosa Beach