Brazil-Like Unauthorized Repairs

[Kat Kanning]

The Sons of Liberty and the Keene Free Press are going to sponsor some unauthorized pot-hole repairs in Keene area.  It'll be in the tradition of "Harry" Tuttle, the repairman, in the movie Brazil.  This will be designed to promote a voluntary society. 

Next Saturday in Keene, the Sons of Liberty will be filling potholes with gravel.  This will start at 3:00.  More details later.

[Kat Kanning]

Brazil clips:
http://www.trond.com/brazil/sound/27b-6.wav
http://www.trond.com/brazil/sound/alone.wav
(Can't find video clips)

[tracysaboe]

That's a good idea.

If we can convince people that the free market has incentives such that people would create roads volentarily, that's the biggest complaint people have against anarchists and libertarians.

Seriously, they always through that in my face. "The government does some good. Don't you like the roads you drive on?"

Tracy

[Russell Kanning]

Have you ever said, "No. I don't like the roads very much."?

[tracysaboe]

Well, yeah!

Pot-hole filled, congested roads.

But they can't get it through their heads that a private entity dependent on customers to make it's money would be more responsible then government socialist roads.

Tracy

[DC]

Seriously, they always through that in my face. "The government does some good. Don't you like the roads you drive on?"

You could say the people liked the bread they got in the bread lines in the Soviet Union. Even animals have trails in the woods but they don't have a government.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

Instead of gravel, (or on top of gravel if it's deep), you could fill them with black top and then just tamp it down real good, or you might try a quick setting concrete with a high gravel content, and put cones around it.  Although I think the best results could probably be had by using equipment that the highway dept and some contractors would have, so a temporary fix with gravel until the town or state get's to it might be better.  If someone is willing to spend the money to rent the equipment and buy the materials, a good job could be done of it, and it would have a more good pr effect than other methods.  One source of information is http://www.t2.unh.edu/winter98/pg6.html.

[Friday]

"We're all in this together, kid!" 

[Russell Kanning]

I am thinking gravel. It is easy and cheap.

[tracysaboe]

Instead of gravel, (or on top of gravel if it's deep), you could fill them with black top and then just tamp it down real good, or you might try a quick setting concrete with a high gravel content, and put cones around it.  Although I think the best results could probably be had by using equipment that the highway dept and some contractors would have, so a temporary fix with gravel until the town or state get's to it might be better.  If someone is willing to spend the money to rent the equipment and buy the materials, a good job could be done of it, and it would have a more good pr effect than other methods.  One source of information is http://www.t2.unh.edu/winter98/pg6.html.

Yeah, won't the gravel just com right back out w/in like 1 day or 2 unless there's something in it to keep it from bouncing out when cars drive over it?

Tracy

[Russell Kanning]

a little ..... but it will basically fill it and help keep it from growing.

We are just doing what we can.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Mostly gravel, with the last couple of inches topped with 'Cold Packed' Asphalt (comes in a bag) tamped down on top would be ideal.(I have a tamper)
If you are in any way advertizing this idea, you might want to identify the city crew that is supposed to be doing this and watch their activity during the week, to see if it increases towards the weekend
Also, the way I get gravel is to go to the big gravel yards with a bunch of 5 gallon buckets. You drive thru their scale when you come in, fill your buckets about 3/4 of the way or whatever you can lift with a shovel and lift them into the truck, and drive back over the scale. I get 3/4 in crushed and pay between 5-7 dollars for 7-8 buckets.
Sometimes you can get empty drywall compound buckets at construction sites.

http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=gravel&near=Keene,+NH&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title

[Russell Kanning]

Looks like we can get the gravel and some asphalt at Cold River Materials in Swanzey.

Lots of times we could just throw some gravel into the huge potholes to slow down the damage to the road and cars even if it is full of water. We can get in and out fast like Harry Tuttle.
Other times we could do a better job and tamp it down and drive on it.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

Gravel alone would only be beneficial for the deep ones.  It is best if the holes are dry before filling them and covering them with blacktop.

[aworldnervelink]

Just a point, if you don't put something on top to hold the gravel down and it ends up flying all around and getting kicked up under people's cars, they are likely to be more irritated than pleased with your efforts.