Study: $2 trillion needed for U.S. infrastructure

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Study: $2 trillion needed for U.S. infrastructure

By Ashley Halsey III, Published: May 16

The United States is falling dramatically behind much of the world in rebuilding and expanding an overloaded and deteriorating transportation network it needs to remain competitive in the global marketplace, according to a new study by the Urban Land Institute.

Burdened with soaring deficits and with long-term transportation plans stalled in Congress, the United States has fallen behind three emerging economic competitors — Brazil, China and India, the institute said.


The report envisions a time when, like Detroit, U.S. cities may opt to abandon services in some districts and when lightly used blacktopped rural roads would be allowed to return to nature. Eventually, the report says, the federal gas tax will be increased; local governments will be allowed to toll interstate highways; water bills will rise to pay for pipe and sewer replacement; property and sales taxes will increase; and private, profit-seeking companies will play a much larger role in funding and maintaining public projects.

“Over the next five to 10 years, public concerns will grow over evident declines in the condition of infrastructure,” the report says. “At some attention-getting point after infrastructure limps along, platforms for reinvesting in America could gain significant traction and public support.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/study-2-trillion-needed-for-us-infrastructure/2011/05/16/AFyppB5G_story.html

[Ed Suspicious]

1. I swear this was the key point ton the

Obama economic agenda. It was brilliant and productive. He seemingly abandoned it.

[JAnthony]

2. Having spent over a trillion on needless wars and another Trillion

wasted on Bush tax cuts to the rich over the last 10 years, no wonder we have so much work that needs to be done at home. And, of course, this doesn't include cuts to other areas of our national priorities.

[Bonobo]

3. He could have killed 2 birds with one stone ala Roosevelt.

Many of us were expecting him to put a lot of people to work with a massive make-work infrastructure program.

It would have given people jobs, allowed them to keep homes (the money of which would have 'trickled up' to the banks that were bailed out anyway).

I consider this to be one of Obama's biggest failures of leadership, courage and vision.

[Moostache]

5. "One of"???

Try "THE BIGGEST" failure of Obama.

By not ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy when he first had the chance, Obama bought them. He now owns them and any attempt to repeal them now will be branded the "Obama Tax Hike" and will be the Mondalesque campaign issue of 2012. He also lost the chance to truly transform American industry in the process as well. Instead of forming a useful jobs program in the vein of FDR, he extended the Bush tax cuts and gave away even MORE in business tax cuts and credits in place of actual investments.

[Javaman]

8. There was a report recently stating that the US is lacking qualified welders...

machinists and other blue collar workers, because there has been such a push to make college the option for all highschool graduates that traditional trade school type jobs have been desperate for workers.

The report goes onto say, that, and I agree, college is not for everyone and because trade schools haven't been pushed, we have a whole section of the population who could have jobs with the right training, but again, in this recession/depression who can afford even trade school?

A wise use of any money for our infrastructure would be for training and retraining of our workforce for blue collar workers.

But frankly, I believe that the repukes block such programs because it would give rise to a larger blue collar working sector. aka Unions.

As a result, here we are.

[bulloney]

13. But, but the Republicans and their media stooges keep saying the government doesn't create jobs.

So, it must be true?

[HopeHoops]

4. I doubt that takes into account the damage from the flooding.

[Historic NY]

6. Imagine what all that squandered war money could have fixed.

[blueclown]

7. Big Pharma: $2 trillion is needed for our compensation plans and golden parachutes.

President Obama: Yes, I'll get right on that.

[bhikkhu]

9. Apparently tax cuts were more important

This isn't a new issue - its been around for at least 10 years, even at the sum named. I believe in the Gore/Bush campaign, whether the surplus would be invested in long-term infrastructure was a big topic.

Needless to say, instead of tax cuts, infrastructure investment, and a balanced budget, what we got was tax cuts, war, and massive debt. Its a little late now, but still worth mentioning; I take "decaying infrastructure" as the cost of war.

[starroute]

10. But the recommendations all fall out on the poor and middle class

It's saying that in order to fix things, we have to resign ourselves to paying higher property, sales, and gas taxes, higher water rates, tolls on the interstates, and whatever fees private, for-profit companies can get the right to squeeze out of us.

Sounds like one more catfood commission report to me, designed to make it impossible for ordinary folk to survive.

[AlbertCat]

12. Sounds like one more catfood commission

We could take the $$$$ from the defense budget, and, as far as what the DoD actually does, it wouldn't make any difference. The waste is thigh deep there.

[jwirr]

11. And that does not even count alternative energy ideas.

[The2ndWheel]

14. Falling behind in a race with no finish line

Remaining competitive in a global marketplace...for what?