Americans are by far THE most mobile people in history. Most of us have the means get from one coast to the other in a matter hours or days using various combinations of public, commercial and/or private transportation and infrastructure built and owned by We, The People. Government is an integral part of that transportation network, and failure to address our outdated and crumbling publicly owned infrastructure will result in America falling behind our competitors economically. While we prepare to spend $2 billion + electing our next president, China and our other competitors are busy building infrastructure designed to get and keep their people moving. If we don't start taking our competition seriously soon, we'll loose this game. Well, our kids will be the losers, righteously cussing us for generations.
I can agree with that. I've always thought roads were included, along with military, police, fire dept, in the few true roles of government. And as much as the right likes to make fun of light rail.....many cities would benefit if we had the money and did it. Charleston, SC, my town, would GREATLY benefit from it. The city is on a big peninsula, and shaped literally like a mushroom, with the "stem"/peninsula being way too crowded with cars and lack of parking. Sure, drive SUVS all over the mushroom, but a subway/rail type transport downtown from the outer hubs would be awesome.
Imagine New York City if the people living there in the 1800's did not have the vision and political will to build the public transportation system that made the city what it is today. Right now a substantial portion of the worlds food supply comes from an area in southern California made fertile by public works projects that brought water to the desert. How much of California's economy was created out of thin air by just that one vision that received backing by public money?
Mobility, like water, farmland, ore etc is a resource. The private sector is not in a postition to handle infrustructure or public transport like Sam. The benefits of maintaining far outweigh the cost. Good thread.
We have more roads, bridges, highways, airports, etc. in America than ever before. Much more mobile now than our 'heyday' v. China, whom you say is surpassing us because our roads are crumbling. Yes, we need to maintain them, and there are problem spots, but the notion that our transportation systems are failing is largely bullshit.
#1 in FreeDumb too ! OH WAIT ! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYPCLtA-ETk]Driving Lamborghini on Autobahn at 305kph=189mph - YouTube[/ame]
