Rebuilding America
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-08-08/rebuilding-america
President Obama called for renewed efforts in nation-building recently -- not in Afghanistan or Iraq – but here, at home, in America. The president was referring to the state of the country's aging and in many cases, poorly maintained infrastructure. More than a quarter of the country's bridges need significant repairs. Over four thousand dams are considered "unsafe". A billion gallons of water is lost every year due to leaking pipes. Nearly everyone agrees that more spending on infrastructure is needed, the billion dollar question is -- how are we going to pay for it.
Guests
Tyler Duvall
infrastructure-strategy consultant with McKinsey and Company
Jack Basso
director, program finance and management,
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO)
Gov. Ed Rendell
Building America’s Future Co-Chair, and former Pennsylvania governor
Maureen McAvey
Executive Vice President, Urban Land Institute
Rep. John Mica (R-FL)
Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Comments
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I am solidly behind the repair of America's infrastructure. I live in Cincinnati, OH; our roads are in desperate I need of repair; our I71/75 bridge crossing the Ohio River is dangerous and in need of replacement. I immigrated from Germany 31 years ago and remember paying more taxes 10 years ago than I do now. While my salary at a private institution of higher learning is lower than that of a high-school teacher of the same age/time of employment, I would be more than willing to pay more in federal income tax to fix this problem. At the same time I believe that we need to take a careful look at wasteful spending within federal programs. Do we need to subsidize big oil companies? Can we be more efficient within the Medicare program? There are many more examples. Everyone I know constantly checks where better deals are available in our personal budgets, checking bundles for internet and TV services, etc. Government needs to do the same. We can't afford ideology in government, we need practicality. Germans pay far more taxes than Americans, but the roads are in good shape. We need to be willing to pay for what we want.
Thank you for your time and your excellent shows.
Ulli Brinksmeier
The answer is simple: we already HAVE the money. We're wasting it on inappropriate greenfield residential growth, and unnecessary road system expansion projects, rather than on maintaining what is overdue for repair.
All over the US, residential developers (with more money than sense) continue proposing new infrastructure to violate wetland, farmland, and wildland. As a rule, every private dollar spent in residential development REQUIRES at least another PUBLIC dollar to be spent on infrastructure and services. So, you and I pay, for a few people to make profit, by destroying what you and I value.
Here in Michigan, Aubrey McClendon proposes such destruction in sand dunes near Saugatuck. There in Northumberland County, Virginia, Tom Dingledine proposes such destruction in other environmentally sensitive areas. They could not accomplish such absurd plans without the public funding that ~magically~ appears to extend roads, add traffic signals, expand public services, and so forth.
And, NO: such development does NOT pay for itself in new taxes. Those data are absolutely clear and unambiguous. Search "cost of community services." Here is a neutral summary: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/lcr/cost.cfm
Developers gleefully defy public plans, destroy public resources, and diminish public values, while existing communities languish in disrepair. They do so only because our TAX DOLLARS allow it. The answer is simple: stop subsidizing new private development, and start fixing old public infrastructure. Our cities would glow with new life.
The first thing to rebuild in this country is the spine of the American people. I am not interested in any of Mr. Obama's schemes for more wealth transfer.
Modern Americans have become dependant on the nanny state because of the illegal corruption of the United States Constitution, there is no money left for the basic upkeep of our country. Until the American people get realistic about what government should provide things will only get worse. Personal responsibility is as dead as the original meaning and intent of our Constitution adopted in 1776.
The framers of our Constitution understood human nature and sought to with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution give us warnings of what could happen and the tools to deal with it.. I think they did an incredible job, human beings are the same now as they were in 1776. The liberals or progressives if you like, have no interest in the Constitution and certainly no respect for it. The "greatest generation" has virtually destroyed the intent of the Constitution through the misdeeds of a corrupt supreme court. We now sit here in the 21st century saddled with the short sighted unobtainable goals from the 20th century that have driven us into bankruptcy. The Left will never learn because in their minds there were inferiors interfering with their goals and that is why the "great society" or whatever grandiose social schemes have failed. To think that popular culture can come up with ideas that can stand the test of time is ignorant at best, and to force them into law is criminal at least. The framers used the expanse of human history and knowledge establishing our laws, to subject our founding principals to the whims of the present is the height of arrogance and treacherous.
I hasten to add that our worldwide military occupations were also warned against and also have very clear Constitutional guidelines to prevent from happening. Again, completely ignored and belittled by both political parties.
"'ubrinks1 wrote:
I am solidly behind the repair of America's infrastructure. I live in Cincinnati, OH; our roads are in desperate I need of repair; our I71/75 bridge crossing the Ohio River is dangerous and in need of replacement. I immigrated from Germany 31 years ago and remember paying more taxes 10 years ago than I do now. While my salary at a private institution of higher learning is lower than that of a high-school teacher of the same age/time of employment, I would be more than willing to pay more in federal income tax to fix this problem."
Ulli:
That Recovery Act of 2009, a trillion dollars do nothing bill that we had to borrow was for infrastruture. It was sold this way by Obama. It was supposed to get workers (unions) to work on roads and bridges.
Monte state of disrepair exists no matter who is OPUS. And may we try whatever IT is YOU are on? NO never mind we have enough brain damage already.
Meangreen. Or monte, same IP how odd, hard to tell apart...
Somehow States without unionized workers still used those funds(and actually delaying some projects). And the REAL number(without interest added LOL- love to see how that 'study' setup- oops 'private' protected information.
Less than 800 million- HALF of which was on paper via the cherished tax cuts ACTUALLY stimulated US from depression(hate to tell you BUT we have been recessioning for alnost a decade... NOT an unusual result from a 'fiat'(economical sense NOT political) war(or two, three, or six depending on how you define war).
Most economists, or most studying local or world history, would agree the ACTUAL 400 million dollars provided to the states allowed those teatsuckling jobs such as police and teachers to stay on the job(purchasing and paying taxes) for another two years. You are correct- What a waste.
Many governing lethal-er legal bodies REQUIRE developer to provide/ pay for services to area OR lured by incentives(tax dollars) for the growth of tax base and increase in 'jobs'.
After the labor from out of town is completed and leave... many communities left with lopsided economies.
Thank goodness it is simply deregulated free market Amerkan capitialism at its best- or worse- depending on your goals.
Maximize short term gain for a few- IT is a winner. Otherwise- not so much.
'Progress'. So nasty IT needed two four-letter words to describe IT(patent pending).
Having worked BOTH union and non-union jobs= AND been shot at by BOTH- does flavor our opinion.
Both sides driven to deliver the cheapest fastest jobs. With the cheapest materials and practices.
Union position used to pay more and have beneifits(including 'uniform' rules in paying, training, seniority etc). Fewer and fewer willing to donate time to staff union positions(usually unpaid).
In and Out. For construction and... profit. Union position did pay 4x so did feel slightly less abused- plus they pretended to follow safety rules a bit better(course employees could afford better tools and water etc).
Look forward to return to six day workweek and child labor being officially repealed. After all many now sex-workers anyway. Understand it was for food, rent, amd means of altering reality BEFORE todays way to college- and old rules prohibit ALL women from colleges anyway.
Burns delightdully dear- have another downgrade while we try this nuttob labeled global thermal something or other.
Semi-stated
"Most economists, or most studying local or world history, would agree the ACTUAL 400 million dollars provided to the states allowed those teatsuckling jobs such as police and teachers to stay on the job(purchasing and paying taxes) for another two years. You are correct- What a waste."
Semi
Property Taxes collected at the local level pay for police and teachers salaries. Gas Taxes that are collected when we fill up our cars were mean't to repair and improve highways and bridges. They are not and go into the General Fund so policitians can find someway to pay for something totally different than what it was mean't for.
Stimilus block grant to states to be used for... snore.
Believe IT or not tax rates and state/ local services VARY wildly by locality so most comments generic for federal symptoms- er- programs.
Gas highway amount varies but most DO use it for designated purposes. You can tell which do and do not by ruined rims etc.
Looking for hubcaps on roadside used to work.
Off road taxes and for two wheelers ARE quite often taxed EXTRA with those dollars being diverted. EXCEPT(mostly) where those effected spoke up.
Sunshine- best cleanser in ployitics. Er- polyticks?
Gaza 5 star hotel?
Either way that is getting in on ground zero.
We doff our beret to them for either result.
The roads are pretty bad around me, to expect the bulk of the money at Obama's disposal to end up where it should go is just not going to happen. He will only put it where he thinks it will get him votes and that does not necessarily mean infrastructure repair or anything else constructive. There are just some people that destroy everything they touch, bad luck, inexperience etc. We have such a guy as President. Mr Obama needs to get back to what he was doing before he was president a.s.a.p., being an ornament!
As for saving local public sector jobs, I looked forward to the trimming of bloated local governments (teachers, police you name it). Thanks for nothing on the stimulus on that one, money put directly in the trash. The job cuts were made anyway a year later and only dragged out the problems and left the economy needing that much longer to recover.
Having scene the ende- several times and axii- we remain intrigued.
Abandonment of coexistance and abilities dimly recalled for this so called free will.
To be free to hurt and kill yourselves seems extremely dubious advantage.
And yet like physical and magical(checked thrice no English(or nonEnglish) word(s) available) limits and convergences- we remain intrigued.
Bravissimo! (SPare them until the morrow and end of talis- tales).
SnP- closing barn after door fire.
Verizion nonunion wireless not effected- LOL. See those magical towers do not utilize OSP backbone(that silly infrastructure that is not profitable to maintain or invest in)... sorry NPR.
And olde style maintenance profit killer with 'new' experts clueless on existing infrastructure. Reminds me of great LOW cost install of pile in Chicago river(and tunnel system)... Q: What does fifty years of urine(mostly of men and mice(hee)) being flushed out of tunnels smell like?
A: New Congress? Remarkable? Leaving one unable to catch breath? Oh- that last maybe only ground pollution and 100 degrees and inability to afford 'cool'...
Good news. Will probably be dead(temperature- poor diet- unable to afford transport to spend foodstamp allowance) before eviction- we WIN !
(Was not sure how damaged disks would work sleeping on ground- another stupid choice AND to serve at 'wrong' time- another poor choice LOL). Good news bronze star sold for $5. Non so;d itmes will be fropp ed off at closest federal facility- maibe they can recycle.
What a relief ! No longer worry about building broken infrastructure or ducking the union- nonunion bullets and sabotage.
What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? Good guess rich and the starving BUT REAL answer
Dont care and dont know- or sum thing like that.
Thankfully 'new' tech secure and the whole economic system uses and relies on computers invulnerable to adulteration or manipulation...
LOL, darn almost made IT. Like the NPR reporter(and others) simply laughing when reporting 'serious' news(bad when direct recepient of paycheck cannot maintain- like paid bribe NOT working- NOT professional to take money and then NOT perform).
Although hysterical laughter will be excused- some of US been there- done that.
Pass the Soylent 'chicken'- odd IT tastes of lawyer NOT chicken? Selfmediacting- no longer just for the kidz.
Respectfully request which countries S and P consider AAA?
And yet our enemies/ criminals/ heads of state(but we repeat ourselves) continue to hoard in just a few countries... just like US. Okay MOSTLY US.
Please comment-
No other place yet capable and besides now paying higher rates(gee who gets that- DUHh) WE should take advantage of building/paying with todays dollars AND rebuild for jobs and a better today, tomorrow paying back with 'less' dollars(thats advanced business- depreciation and inflation deflationary pressures)). Or continue seeing where the whirlpool goes. Fire or water(EARTH no longer affordable).
THIS is exactly the sort of thing the "stimulus" package should've addressed. Instead, less than 10% of that money was spent on physical infrastructure (even using a broad definition of the term). Now we have all that debt but little to show for it.
We want WHAT you all on...
or in terms few could understand
"Above all, we cannot play ducks and drakes with a native battery of idioms which prescribes egregious collocations of vocables as the Basic put up with for tolerate, or put at a loss for bewilder ."
In a multi-state effort involving harassing- er- preventive enforcement of motorists- 18 were arrested by over 25 officers this weekend... PLUS lots of cash generating tickets(except for those unable to pay and becoming leeches on society in our penal system(still growing- at least economy NOT total loss)).
Besides fuel and time lost by innocent((and a capture rate of 10 percent of population for drugs) AND why we utilize the elderly when local law enforcement busy for transport) with several KILOgrams confiscated!
We werent taught how to speak metric but that must be almost
tons... thousands at least... or 4 ounces a piece- damn small businessmen. Though if coke- damn small fry. Sex trade much safer silly minions.
Considering IT is prime vaction time economy must be bad if numbers that low. No information wherever Congress people apprehended BUT our reps calls remain unanswered.
Something about all that does bother US...
We know IT not the 'free' market. Burns pretty- kill nicely childr3n.
Olde business models do work... or so we are told. And after the first few swallows the smell taste barely noticeable.
Reminds US of the beatings. Now we longer worth bothering about. Unless caught with unauthorized asset redistributions from the golden rulers...
But that would be going too far...
Sadly country sold into/ bought some historic properties at a VERY high price and all we have to show for IT is a near police state AND upside down loans on countries in now poorer neighborhoods.
Suggested investing and protecting differently but terminated as terrorist.
Obamas only fault and 'secret' is that he IS a new age republican.
Governor, Sire, PROC also has much of infrastructure OWNED by armed forces.
Taxing highways seems at odds with open border trade.
Believe we agree for different reasons though.
Correcting substandard heating/cooling housing conditions ALONE would halve energy use... not to mention increase QOL.
Incorporate sane water usage as well and lick that real disaster as well.
But we wont.
I simply wish the Tea Party folks understand what your panel are talking about.
In the Chicago area, the local roads in the very wealthy North Shore are in very bad shape, with many potholes, some pretty deep. Repairing those Porsches and Mercedes adds up, not to mention the rough ride. Unless of course, one has enough money to toss the Porsche and buy a new one - like the wealthy in Saudi Arabia, where the desert serves as a graveyard for unrepaired Mercedes.
It is not only the roads that are in disrepair on the North Shore. So much development took place over the past few decades that the water sewage system cannot keep up. Storms require dumping the excess raw sewage into Lake Michigan resulting in e. coli build up. This closes down beaches in the wealthy North Shore as well as in Chicago.
What a way to ignore problems, eh?
I simply wish the liberal folks understand what your panel are talking about.
Good Morning,
I am concerned in the complete malfunction of the United States government. They talk about debt reduction, but its all one sided with cut after cut after cut, yet we send billions to other countries to support their qualities of life and improve their businesses, infrastructures etc. Our country seems to have lost sight of what made our nation great. We invented and built the best of everything in THIS country. Whether it was cars, televisions and the best roads, buildings and bridges. Now here we are, falling off the charts in quality of life, education, infrastructure, employment and health. It seems that the so called "job creators" aren't creating anything but profits to line their pockets, evade any sort of taxes that would support their own states and the country as a whole. IF we are to survive at all as a country, it's time to start AT HOME, let's get back to basics and improve our country back to where we could be proud of it. It's funny when you post the rusting lamp post from Detroit on your site because so many foreigners are coming to Detroit JUST to photograph the "Ruins of Detroit". The leaders in Washington are more concerned with elections and who's in charge than actually DOING anything. So what ever party wins, what did they actually win? There's going to be nothing left to lead or govern at all. NPR reported a couple of weeks ago that "Metro Detroit" had over 91,000 millionaires, 9th in the whole country, yet when you drive around Detroit and see the waste, the ruins and the crumbling infrastructure you can't grasp why no one cares to help support the area. A sad state of affairs for sure....
I wonder how often Congressman Mica is on the highways of the US. My husband and I travel over 2500 miles two times a year from Texas to NY. We frequently encounter rough and poorly maintained highways. Toll roads are not the answer. Toll fees which are affordable to some are regressive. Our highways are just another outward sign of our beloved country becoming less.
I appreciate the show. It's covering important issues.
I would appreciate it, however, if Diane would be more specific in her language. The show is not addressing "infrastructure" as a whole, nut rather "transportation infrastructure."
Infrastructure also includes water systems (water supply, sewage, storm water, etc.), parks, public buildings and lots more. Some would even include our internet system as part of the infrastructure.
Thanks, again, for the show,
Mark Haim
Columbia, MO
Gas taxes should definitely be increased and for every dollar we spend on highway or automobile use infrastructure, a dollar should be spent on public transportation.
When I hear "speed up the process" regarding transportation projects, I know that what is meant is this:
1-have no regard for the environment and the animals and plants that live there
2-have no regard for pedestrians
3-have no regard for bicycle riders
I love hearing the left here complain about the road disrepair and how we need to raise taxes to repair them.
Have any of you actually read Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution? This IS one of the responsibilities of the Federal government. If they were doing what is constitutionally required, instead of what is NOT (Education, Agriculture, Labor, Energy, HHS, HUD, and other social programs) there would be PLENTY of money. These are STATE functions.
Read my lips; the FG has PLENTY of money. Its spending priorities are massively off target. Every bill that goes through Congress should be placed next to Article 1, Section 8 and they should be required to tell us where it fits in. Right now, about 60% of the Federal budget does not pass muster with the Constitution.
I think that as we design and rebuilt infrastructure, we need to rethink the larger issues of urban planning and the costs associated with sprawl and poorly planned subdivisions. When thinking about high speed rail, freeway construction, etc. I think we need to have a broader plan that integrates ideas about building communities, strengthening local economies and lessening the dependence on the automobile (and road infrastructure).