MINNEAPOLIS --
... "Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Thursday that he has ordered an immediate inspection of all Minnesota bridges that have a design like the one that collapsed Wednesday in Minneapolis." ...
MyFox Twin Cities (Aug 3).

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3946519&version=146&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

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Does the US need a "bridge-collapse" to act on climate-change?
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"Even diligent readers of the best U.S. newspapers will be left with a less than overwhelming feeling about the dire consequences that may result from global warming, and the firm scientific conclusion that humans have caused warming, according to an analysis in Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, the media watchdog group.

Counterparts in Britain and elsewhere around the world were much more likely to print headlines and stories that framed global warming as a crisis that must be dealt with quickly to avert disaster." (desmogblog).

http://www.desmogblog.com/nature-to-newsroom-get-me-rewrite

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Based on what's been happening over the last 10 years I think the answer is unfortunately "yes" - the US needs a "bridge-collapse" to act on climate-change.

Why the US needs something like that is a more difficult question.