Restart the U.S. economy with massive infrastructure spending.

Before I begin I would like to show you America's report card based off of analysis and research from the American Society of civil engineers.This report will grade our infrastructure from A to F accordingly throughout each point in context.Mind you this is a 2009 report and It probably has declined since then.



Let's begin with having a look at what we rely on in our everyday lives,some of which we take very little notice of.
1.Dams:Source

As dams age and downstream development increases, the number of deficient dams has risen to more than 4,000, including 1,819 high hazard potential dams. Over the past six years, for every deficient, high hazard potential dam repaired, nearly two more were declared deficient. There are more than 85,000 dams in the U.S., and the average age is just over 51 years old.

2.Drinking water:Source

America’s drinking water systems face an annual shortfall of at least $11 billion to replace aging facilities that are near the end of their useful lives and to comply with existing and future federal water regulations. This does not account for growth in the demand for drinking water over the next 20 years. Leaking pipes lose an estimated 7 billion gallons of clean drinking water a day.

Here is a article I read today about the integrity of our water and environmental structures.
(Refer to source for full article)
Source

Critical water pipelines are breaking from coast to coast, triggered by this summer's record high temperatures. It's not a phenomenon or coincidence, experts say. It's a clear sign that Americans should brace for more water interruptions, accompanied by skyrocketing water bills.It underscores the fact that much of the nation's underground water lines are 80 to 100 years old -- and approaching the end of their lives..

3.Hazardous Waste:Source

Redevelopment of brownfields sites over the past five years generated an estimated 191,338 new jobs and $408 million annually in extra revenues for localities. In 2008, however, there were 188 U.S. cities with brownfields sites awaiting cleanup and redevelopment. Additionally, federal funding for “Superfund” cleanup of the nation’s worst toxic waste sites has declined steadily, dropping to $1.08 billion in 2008, its lowest level since 1986

4.Levees:Source

More than 85% of the nation’s estimated 100,000 miles of levees are locally owned and maintained. The reliability of many of these levees is unknown. Many are more than 50 years old and were originally built to protect crops from flooding. With an increase in development behind these levees, the risk to public health and safety from failure has increased. Rough estimates put the cost at more than $100 billion to repair and rehabilitate the nation’s levees

5.Solid waste:Source

In 2007, the U.S. produced 254 million tons of municipal solid waste. More than a third was recycled or recovered, representing a 7% increase since 2000. Per capita generation of waste has remained relatively constant over the last 20 years. Despite those successes, the increasing volume of electronic waste and lack of uniform regulations for disposal creates the potential for high levels of hazardous materials and heavy metals in the nation’s landfills, posing a significant threat to public safety.

6.Waste Water:Source

Aging systems discharge billions of gallons of untreated wastewater into U.S. surface waters each year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the nation must invest $390 billion over the next 20 years to update or replace existing systems and build new ones to meet increasing demand.

7.Avaition:Source

Despite surging oil prices, volatile credit markets, and a lagging economy, the Federal Aviation Administration predicts 3% annual growth in air travel. Travelers are faced with increasing delays and inadequate conditions as a result of the long overdue need to modernize the outdated air traffic control system and the failure to enact a federal aviation program.

8.Bridges:Source

More than 26%, or one in four, of the nation’s bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. While some progress has been made in recent years to reduce the number of deficient and obsolete bridges in rural areas, the number in urban areas is rising. A $17 billion annual investment is needed to substantially improve current bridge conditions. Currently, only $10.5 billion is spent annually on the construction and maintenance of bridges.

9.Inland Waterways:Source

The average tow barge can carry the equivalent of 870 tractor trailer loads. Of the 257 locks still in use on the nation's inland waterways, 30 were built in the 1800s and another 92 are more than 60 years old. The average age of all federally owned or operated locks is nearly 60 years, well past their planned design life of 50 years. The cost to replace the present system of locks is estimated at more than $125 billion.

10.Rail:Source

A freight train is three times as fuel efficient as a truck, and traveling by passenger rail uses 20 percent less energy per mile than traveling by car. However, growth and changes in demand create bottlenecks that constrain traffic in critical areas. Freight and passenger rail generally share the same network, and a significant potential increase in passenger rail demand will add to the freight railroad capacity challenges. More than $200 billion is needed through 2035 to accommodate anticipated growth.

11.Roads:Source

Americans spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic at a cost of $78.2 billion a year--$710 per motorist. Roadway conditions are a significant factor in about one-third of traffic fatalities. Poor road conditions cost U.S. motorists $67 billion a year in repairs and operating costs--$333 per motorist; 33% of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 36% of the nation's major urban highways are congested.The current spending level of $70.3 billion for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve the nation's highways.

12.Transit:Source

Transit use increased 25% between 1995 and 2005, faster than any other mode of transportation. However, nearly half of American households do not have access to bus or rail transit, and only 25% have what they consider to be a "good option." The Federal Transit Administration estimates $15.8 billion is needed annually to maintain conditions and $21.6 billion is needed to improve to good conditions. In 2008, federal capital outlays for transit were only $9.8 billion.

13.Parks and Recreation:Source

Parks, beaches, and other recreational facilities contribute $730 billion per year to the U.S. economy, support nearly 6.5 million jobs, and contribute to cleaner air and water and higher property values. Despite record spending on parks at the state and local level, the acreage of parkland per resident in urban areas is declining. While significant investments are being made in the National Park Service for its 2016 centennial, the agency’s facilities still face a $7 billion maintenance backlog.

14.Schools:Source

Spending on the nation’s schools grew from $17 billion in 1998 to a peak of $29 billion in 2004. However, by 2007 spending fell to $20.28 billion. No comprehensive, authoritative nationwide data on the condition of America’s school buildings has been collected in a decade. The National Education Association’s best estimate to bring the nation’s schools into good repair is $322 billion.

What a great way to kick our economy back in gear.We can put hundreds of thousands of people to work and begin the over-haul of our nations critical infrastructure.I think this idea would be an excellent way for any Presidential Candidate to use as a platform for office.

To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

But don't you think the taxes would be off-set by the creation of jobs?If more Americans could work that are curently unemployed it would bolster our economy wouldn't you say?Were talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs.

We could've already had all of those improvements in infrastructure complete, or almost finished, if we hadn't spent so much on military and wars over the past 50+ years.
We were warned about the military-industrial complex..
to those saying even today we can't afford it...just wait until one of your loved ones is driving over a bridge and it collapses. I think your opinion will change drastically.
We can spend trillions to kill our enemies, but nothing to protect our own civilians at home. What are your priorities?
And don't say the enemies are swarming at the gates...we haven't been attacked directly by a country since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

reply to post by Daedal


well thought out!!! S & F

my wife has been saying the same thing for YEARS!!!!

the ONLY sticky point i need to make.. is,, most of the workforce would be

NON US citizen (my wife thinks this comment is raciest) --but i think its just accurate
MY family came here in 1905..LOL


the dude next door wouldn't work.. he has a degree in political science..

get dirt under his finger-nails,,,,NEVER!

the Lady down the block,, who has a WIFE, and two Mixed race kids..Wont work..
she has a full- time-job finding people to sue,, for discrimination..!!

our Country is in REAL trouble, with a capital T,,, and THAT,,My Friends
stands for "Trabajo" ......!!!

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

But don't you think the taxes would be off-set by the creation of jobs?If more Americans could work that are curently unemployed it would bolster our economy wouldn't you say?Were talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Jobs paid for by tax money. Sorry, but that is a known losing proposition. Look at FDR's policies in the 30's. It just does not work. Those types of government sponsored jobs are always a net economic loss.

I agree that infrastructure needs some serious help, but you do realize that this sort of spending would end up being a local fight over who's buddy gets the contract to do the work?

You would get a better economic boom if you gave every American food stamps! It's guaranteed to be spent on something we all can use and would benefit much more locally than construction contracts to big contractors!

reply to post by sheepslayer247


You want a real economic boom? We should have given "TARP" money to the taxpayers. That would have been around $400,000/taxpayer if all the bailout money would have been used that way. Just think of the boom we would be having right now if every taxpayer had 400 grand burning a hole in his/her pocket.

reply to post by sonofliberty1776


I completely agree!

But you do realize that this sort of idea is considered outright socialism? What's right for the people and the economy is not always what the politicians are willing to do because they have reputations, and corporate dividends, to uphold!

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

But don't you think the taxes would be off-set by the creation of jobs?If more Americans could work that are curently unemployed it would bolster our economy wouldn't you say?Were talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Jobs paid for by tax money. Sorry, but that is a known losing proposition. Look at FDR's policies in the 30's. It just does not work. Those types of government sponsored jobs are always a net economic loss.

Why wouldn't it be possible to raise the cigarette tax just 25 cents to go into an alloted account that oversees this.We can raise taxes slighty on beer an alcohol as well.Prolly also cut back on healthcare costs as well

Bring the troops home and pave the roads....

Fix a few bridges also.......The savings from the Iraq and Afgan war would pay for most of it.......What are we spendig again? How many billions a month?.........

That would be alot of jobs back here at home.

Originally posted by liejunkie01
Bring the troops home and pave the roads....

Fix a few bridges also.......The savings from the Iraq and Afgan war would pay for most of it.......What are we spendig again? How many billions a month?.........

That would be alot of jobs back here at home.

Sounds like winning proposition to me.No more war and the troops could come home to jobs.

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

But don't you think the taxes would be off-set by the creation of jobs?If more Americans could work that are curently unemployed it would bolster our economy wouldn't you say?Were talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Jobs paid for by tax money. Sorry, but that is a known losing proposition. Look at FDR's policies in the 30's. It just does not work. Those types of government sponsored jobs are always a net economic loss.

Why wouldn't it be possible to raise the cigarette tax just 25 cents to go into an alloted account that oversees this.We can raise taxes slighty on beer an alcohol as well.Prolly also cut back on healthcare costs as well

edit on 15-8-2011 by Daedal because: (no reason given)

I thought you were talking about income tax supported projects. Even if the government did raise said taxes as you suggest, they would just put in in the general fund and waste it anyway.

"Infrastructure spending"?

What part of "WE'RE BROKE!"

Don't you understand????????????????????
we poured our treasury into a bottomless pit to keep the world economy rolling for a couple more years.

("AIG" and Duetschebank ring any bells Mcfly? HELLO!!!)

I agree but I would point that infrastructure money toward

Nuclear Power
Windmill Farms
Solar Farms
Space exploration and mining. Helium 3 on the moon comes to mind.
R&D

reply to post by Daedal


That was what Obama promised to do (massive infrastructure spending). What happened? www.weeklystandard.com...

Obama's own bigotry and hatred is what happened. President Obama is a male hating bigot of the highest order(doesn't really mater on race). I say create a woman tax(a tax only women will pay since they got most of the stimulus) and use that revenue to pay for infrastructure repairs and what not.

This is an economic fallacy. Please read Economics in One Lesson for more information.

reply to post by Daedal

Sounds like President Obama is finally talking about our infrastructure and putting money into it..About time,

Perhaps our current POTUS could spend a little money in these affected areas. He did mention spending money on our roads and other infrastructure in his State of the Union Address. I mean really, just have a glance at the pic below and the grades our infrastructures received.

lifejunkie01 reply

Bring the troops home and pave the roads.... Fix a few bridges also.......The savings from the Iraq and Afgan war would pay for most of it.......What are we spendig again? How many billions a month?......... That would be alot of jobs back here at home.

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776

Originally posted by Daedal

Originally posted by sonofliberty1776
To do so you would have to increase taxes or do some major cutting to some entitlement programs. Raising taxes is this economy would be the last straw, I suspect many would just give up in such case. As for cutting spending, go for it. I would agree with spending 1 dollar in infrastructure for every 1.5 dollars in REAL CUTS.

But don't you think the taxes would be off-set by the creation of jobs?If more Americans could work that are curently unemployed it would bolster our economy wouldn't you say?Were talking about hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Jobs paid for by tax money. Sorry, but that is a known losing proposition. Look at FDR's policies in the 30's. It just does not work. Those types of government sponsored jobs are always a net economic loss.

Why wouldn't it be possible to raise the cigarette tax just 25 cents to go into an alloted account that oversees this.We can raise taxes slighty on beer an alcohol as well.Prolly also cut back on healthcare costs as well

edit on 15-8-2011 by Daedal because: (no reason given)

How about we raise taxes on coffee and chocolate? Prohibitionist's make me sick to my stomach.

As per the OP:

We are too broke now. All the money( 1 trillion dollars) allotted for infrastructure was redirected by the Obama administration to bankers, radical feminist's and union thugs.

Those three groups stole 1 trillion USD with the Obama administrations help!