How did we build the national highway system...35% yesterday vs 7% today

[pbmus]

Link to tweet

[True Dough]

1. Not only that

but the costs per mile are ASTRONOMICAL today compared to the 1950s, even accounting for inflation. There's a lot of corruption built into the system now that artificially drives up costs.

[randr]

2. We built what was, at the.time,

the most advanced infrastructure in history. We owe our standard of living to the money we invested and the sweat it took to build it. It has been a gift to future generations and it burns my ass when I hear of reluctance to maintain it. The generations who benefit don't even understand the need for a labor force to that end.
A continued improvement all infrastructures we have grown dependant apon requires a solution to the "border problem".

[SoonerPride]

3. There is no "border problem."

There is, however, a white supremacy problem.

[randr]

7. As well as the opportunity

to do what is humanly right and have the work force needed.

[soldierant]

10. The "border problem is

that so many people think there is such a thing as a "border problem."

[Takket]

6. Roads are not more expensive today due to "corruption"

They are more expensive due to more complicated construction techniques, need for much higher capacity roads due to more traffic, stronger regulations and more stringent codes employed over the years to make roads safer and last longer, and much better safety standards for construction workers.

In addition government has stronger law about the bidding process that helps fix a lot of the kickbacks that used to plague construction more more in the past than it does today.

[True Dough]

9. I don't buy it

Other countries use the same or similar "complicated construction techniques" as the U.S. and their costs per mile are much, much lower.

Another possible reason for disproportionately rising infrastructure costs in the U.S. could be a side effect of empowering the public to sway projects, which is not a bad thing, just unintended consequences:

"Acts such as the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA, 1970)—which requires federal agencies to incorporate potential environmental impacts into their decision making—the National Historic Preservation Act (1966), the Endangered Species Act (1973), and the Clean Water Act (1972) all made it easier for people affected by development to interfere with it via petitions, protests, and lawsuits. As a result, over the last 50 years public officials and construction companies have often been forced to adjust plans in ways that add costs... All this evidence suggests that the greater ability of residents to stymie or alter development post-1970 has contributed to higher highway construction costs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adammillsap/2020/03/16/why-is-it-so-expensive-to-build-things-in-america/?sh=66601f8a1048

[Progressive dog]

15. The GDP of the USA has grown

from $525 billion to $20.9 trillion over those 60 years. https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/gdp-gross-domestic-product
The population has increased by nearly 150 million.
Highways carry many more people and goods than they did then.

[summer_in_TX]

4. The "no new taxes" bandwagon was designed to take America off course IMO

Cutting investments to American infrastructure and education amounts to slowly choking off our strength and productivity.

I’ve wondered a lot about Grover Norquist’s connections with Russians and others. His wife is from an eastern bloc if I recall correctly. Whenever I see a TV ad for a new episode of The Americans, I stop and wonder about his origin story. He certainly cares nothing four American well-being, seems to me.

[WarGamer]

5. a little misleading

Corporations have never been more "mobile"

A new tax rate won't solve the problem by itself.

We need a new vision and regulations that make sure that Corporations that use the American market for their profit pay the bill.

For example... Alibaba paid China taxation of nearly 8 Billion dollars last year.

They don't pay the US Gov't JACKSHIT.

And here they are on the NYSE with AMERICANS owning MILLIONS (billions?) of their shares?

Can we have a Globe full of foreign corporations doing business here, soaking up American investment dollars and pay no tax?

[KT2000]

8. +1

[DENVERPOPS]

11. Couldn't agree more

The minute they "installed" Reagan, the corporations began their pillaging and plundering of the middle class, mostly.
(Just for the record, what the Republicans did in the 1980 election was nothing less than Treasonous. But it was nothing compared to the complicity of their actions in 2000 &2004)

They have been progressing incredibly ever since, but launched into hyper speed these past five years.

If Trump and his Republican insurrectionist Maggats had succeeded, we would have presently been a Corporate Fascist Tyranny, named the "United Corporations of America".......

It is more than obvious, that the Republicans, having been that close to succeeding, will let nothing stand in their way in these next few years to accomplishing their goal. In just a few short months, they have already regrouped and started a tsunami of shit to bury the Dems......

It is Katie Bar the Door, folks. It will be an uphill battle every single day from here on.............

I'm old, and sadly will not be able to much longer continue the fight I have fought since the 1980's......but I bleed for my children and their children......It is excrutiatingly obvious the Republican politicians and their voters couldn't give a shit less about theirs.......

The Republicans should rejoice at their party's success: This group of Republicans are, by far, the most thoroughly corrupt political party in the history of our nation. Just like the quotation states.....Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

[WarGamer]

13. I'm a little more pessimistic than you...

A lot of Corporations are now firmly on Team Blue so politicians of all stripes are protecting them.

Wealth Inequality and Poverty eradication are the #1 priority for this country.

Many of our other problems will be solved once every American has a financial stake in the country.

[DENVERPOPS]

14. You might want to add in

public education that is meaningful..........

[SunSeeker]

12. K & R & Retweeted!