People who travel in private jets and chauffeured limousines don't worry about our roads and bridges. If the roads become impassible to vehicular traffic, they'll hire footmen and sedan chairs. That's how corporate capitalism works.
We should be setting aside money when times are good to build and rebuild the infrastructure during recessions when costs are less and we can keep people employed. We missed a golden opportunity after the great recession in 2008 for a true national public works program, investments our communities and intercity transportation need.
But let's build a wall that costs billions and does nothing to stop illegal immigration (most of those are over staying on visas, not crossing the border).
Another Trump promise to do something about infrastructure decay, another colossal lie...
1
This is the result of decades of Republican dogma which demanded short-sighted tax cuts to give ever larger tax cuts to the wealthy. People need to travel the world & see how inadequate our countries infrastructure is compared to other countries. We are all living in Kansas now and for what? So the rich can get richer. What ignorant people we are.
Roads, schools, water mains, bridges, et cetera should all be free just like they were back in the good ole days when they were first built.
Trump has no plan, all talk, no thought........
2
It is astounding how bad the infrastructure is in so much of USA.
I have been very impressed by how heavily Governor Kasich has invested for at least 7 years in repair of our expressways in Northwestern Ohio. If I travel by car to three or four nearby states, it always is nice to come home to the best roadways of the trip.
I don it comprehend that Trump didn't make infrastructure his first priority.
I have been very impressed by how heavily Governor Kasich has invested for at least 7 years in repair of our expressways in Northwestern Ohio. If I travel by car to three or four nearby states, it always is nice to come home to the best roadways of the trip.
I don it comprehend that Trump didn't make infrastructure his first priority.
3
We lost 16 years of zero or near zero interest rates that could have funded huge infrastructure projects that would have given many a soft landing in the recession economy...but no- we have fake conservatives who talk about tax breaks and blocking spending
Trump voters - these are your jobs. When you vote republican you vote against spending..all spending - on important stuff, like infrastructure and rehab and education and day care and healthcare and stuff that tax dollars pay for.
Democrats should have pounded on this for the entire Obama presidency. It was a major lost opportunity. They should have ran on obstruction.
Trump voters - these are your jobs. When you vote republican you vote against spending..all spending - on important stuff, like infrastructure and rehab and education and day care and healthcare and stuff that tax dollars pay for.
Democrats should have pounded on this for the entire Obama presidency. It was a major lost opportunity. They should have ran on obstruction.
9
A note to our Republican Leadership... you cannot cut your way to excellence..
2
Many Republicans, I should say evangelical Christians, believe that the world is soon about to end. It makes no sense for them to spend on infrastructure or other long-term programs. Another large Republican constituency group are very wealthy individuals who want to increase their wealth and an easy way to do that is to decrease their taxes and cut social programs. Unless reason and loving your neighbor more than your property become American values you get low infrastructure spending.
2
Infrastructure decay is more of a symptom of the downward spiral in may areas of the United States. It is hard to be positive when many of the workers in the private sector have stagnant wages (economist speak for wages declining after adjusting for inflation).
Where there is money, things are more pleasant: San Fran, Atlanta, and the pinnacle of COLA funded workers, Washington DC. Fifty miles off the I95 corridor and the aura is considerably bleaker-- so is the infrastructure.
Where there is money, things are more pleasant: San Fran, Atlanta, and the pinnacle of COLA funded workers, Washington DC. Fifty miles off the I95 corridor and the aura is considerably bleaker-- so is the infrastructure.
1
Vote for Democrats, who will support public works spending and hopefully the tax increases (progressive) to pay for them. That will solve this problem.
We're only talking about the "visible infrastructure." roads, bridges, tunnels, water works, etc.
What about the invisible infrastructure on information systems built over past 50+ years?
Saying: "Old hardware goes to the junk pile... old software goes back into production again tonight."
What about the invisible infrastructure on information systems built over past 50+ years?
Saying: "Old hardware goes to the junk pile... old software goes back into production again tonight."
3
if US taxpayers were willing to pay this would not be a problem. But they, on the aggregate, seem to think that infrastructure should be built with no money forthcoming.
Privitization seems the only solution to overcome this problem, sad as I am to say that.
Privitization seems the only solution to overcome this problem, sad as I am to say that.
It requires legislation -- must be put into the budget -- and that requires GOP Senators and Dem Senators. Not all in Trump's hands, so all he can do right now is promote it -- and he is doing it very well.
3
Trump is promoting selling our infrastructure and public highway system to the Saudis. I am so excited at the prospect of a bunch of desert Sheiks supervising dams and roadways in the U.S. Maybe they can use their organizational skills so evident in the last Mecca disaster; we are overpopulated anyway. That big Mecca building is really something, and all those expensive lodgings, and tents in the plaza. We should think about building a really yuge thing on the Mall, and let people erect tents on the lawn; charge everyone to sit, standing would be free.
1
Americans may believe themselves to be overtaxed but the data do not support that conclusion. OECD 2014 data show that the US had the 4th-lowest level of government revenue as percentage of GDP at 25.9% (ahead of only Mexico, Chile, Korea); OECD average was 34.2%, Canada 31.2%. Looking at average annual infrastructure spending as percentage GDP 2008-2013 the US is at 2.4%, Canada 3.5%, Russia 4.5%, China 8.8%. It is unrealistic to expect to fund infrastructure investment with this relatively low tax revenue given your very high level of military expenditure. So to avoid falling further behind your competitors in quality of infrastructure government revenues will have to increase - and there's not much point in taxing people without money. Except politically, of course.
14
One has to compensate for national health care costs in many of the OECD countries, for instance UK and Germany have quite substantial health care related taxes. National health care in the US does have a degree of tax subsidy and social welfare distribution, but health care is not fully funded by the government in the US and severely distorts your comparison.
1
"In 34 states, spending on government construction projects was lower last year than in 2007" - Something makes me think it's more than a coincidence that this is the same number of GOP governors.
5
Greed corrupts all and hence they are all corrupt.
3
There is no Merit for the federal government to fund roads... I think the trend mentioned in the article is better - states and localities can levy their own gas taxes and fix their own roads. There is no need for the federal government to do that for everyone.
You would have liked living in NJ when that happened and unregulated ethanol gasoline containing methane contaminated groundwater and private wells. Or, maybe in CA when PG&E was granted the right to unsupervised digs; they dug right into a place containing methane gas; the release of methane emptied coastal neighborhoods and then some; methane gas does not evaporate, it rises up until trapped in the ozone. An old corroded leaking oil pipeline in SoCal contaminated coastal waters killing sea life for miles around. Wait until an unsupervised off shore drilling rig does more than destroy a well head, contaminating a whole community of fishermen; wait until it punctures through the Earth's crust containing methane gas. You do know that methane gas cannot be contained; there is no "well head" to repair; there is no fix. You should lose your right to vote.
1
Infrastructure -- yet another lie but Trump & GOP shills that duped a good portion, though not a majority, of the electorate. That's why they "love the uneducated".
4
I'm curious: what has the federal government done (or what does it plan to do) to help offset the loss of gas tax revenue as more drivers turn to electric and hybrid vehicles? Right now, I'm sure it's a relatively small loss, but it's only going to grow, meaning even less money in the federal pot...
2
Charge a tax at the charging stations per electrical charge performed. Just like they meter your electricity and charge you for it.
After deducting the defense budget and interest on the debt we are spending 2 trillion dollars a year at the federal level alone. Add to that another two trillion at state and local levels and still we don't have enough. Four trillion dollars a year, not enough. What is the cost of just turning all this government on before it even does anything. Crazy.
2
The federal Davis-Bacon Act (and similar state laws) require that workers on federal (or state) construction projects be paid prevailing wages, which as a practical matter means union scale. That law drives up costs of construction.
There is no similar law protecting the salaries of those who use the state and federal highways for business or pleasure. There is no similar law for those whose raw materials and completed products are shipped on those highways. To make affordable the infrastructure we need, we should repeal Davis-Bacon.
People in the building trades will still do well. They will receive similar compensation whether they work on public or private projects. They will have more jobs available for them (and their friends and family members seeking similar work) because the reduced costs will increase the number of construction projects.
There is no similar law protecting the salaries of those who use the state and federal highways for business or pleasure. There is no similar law for those whose raw materials and completed products are shipped on those highways. To make affordable the infrastructure we need, we should repeal Davis-Bacon.
People in the building trades will still do well. They will receive similar compensation whether they work on public or private projects. They will have more jobs available for them (and their friends and family members seeking similar work) because the reduced costs will increase the number of construction projects.
1
So we can't drive the road without damaging our car tires? I guess that's what the tax cut is for: to buy new tires. Thanks GOP.
11
Taxes are like club membership dues. You want enjoy the benefits of living in a wealthy, developed country like the US? Pay for them. Or else the club won't be able to maintain its amenities, services, and of course, the social status that membership confers on you. If you want to be a member of the best club in town, you gotta pay. If no one pays, your awesome club turns into the one with the mossy pool, brown golf course and rutted tennis courts.
12
Where would we have been going into World War II if not for New Deal programs such as the Works Progress Administration, which built our infrastructure and restored our national resolve?
A country's strength (both physical and psychological) depends on a strong foundation and the work that it takes to maintain it. FDR knew that. But how do you do that in an era of no capital because we've been told by a handful of selfish billlionaires that *all* taxes are wasteful, and governments should not get one more dime? How do you continue to project the ideal of a progressive, stable, and self-reliant country when a bridge collapses or a road buckles, schools close, and cities can't provide even basic services? How do we keep our national morale as we lurch toward a third-world existence?
Public works are for the public good. FDR knew that, too, and asked us to invest in the country and in ourselves through programs like the WPA. We met the challenge then and saw the gains. Today, though, it is apparently too much to ask that we continue that legacy through the shared responsibility of taxes to pay for the basic upkeep of our infrastructure. So we let our foundation weaken and our country decline -- our choice, our loss. I'm just glad those in the 1930s saw things differently.
A country's strength (both physical and psychological) depends on a strong foundation and the work that it takes to maintain it. FDR knew that. But how do you do that in an era of no capital because we've been told by a handful of selfish billlionaires that *all* taxes are wasteful, and governments should not get one more dime? How do you continue to project the ideal of a progressive, stable, and self-reliant country when a bridge collapses or a road buckles, schools close, and cities can't provide even basic services? How do we keep our national morale as we lurch toward a third-world existence?
Public works are for the public good. FDR knew that, too, and asked us to invest in the country and in ourselves through programs like the WPA. We met the challenge then and saw the gains. Today, though, it is apparently too much to ask that we continue that legacy through the shared responsibility of taxes to pay for the basic upkeep of our infrastructure. So we let our foundation weaken and our country decline -- our choice, our loss. I'm just glad those in the 1930s saw things differently.
12
They had weathered a deep worldwide Depression, as my parents had. They were FDR Democrats, and I was raised to understand we are all in it together. My father managed a can plant 24/7 during WWII. My uncles served as Captains on large aircraft carriers when aged 25 and 26, because they were law school grads and their senior officers were killed early in the war. They were gone for four years. They were a different breed, raised to be tough, much like the Brits and their "Keep Calm and Carry On".
First and foremost, Trump is a talker, not a doer. At some point, working class, blue collar and poor republicans need to demand results from Trump. Where are his detailed plans for infrastructure, tax reform and healthcare?
His greatest hoax is tricking people into believing a privileged white male, born to wealth, Ivy League educated, earns $Billions is somehow treated unfairly.
A sucker is born every minute and Trump seems to have cornered the market.
His greatest hoax is tricking people into believing a privileged white male, born to wealth, Ivy League educated, earns $Billions is somehow treated unfairly.
A sucker is born every minute and Trump seems to have cornered the market.
5
Sublett County, Wyoming is a trump lover epicenter. In this very rural county tourism is an important source of income. The Bridger-Teton National Forest is one of the major tourist attractions. Yet the roads in one of the most important campgrounds is rapidly becoming impassible and the stench from untended toilets (outhouses) is nauseating. At a very small cost the US Government could provide the funds the US Forest Service needs to correct this abominable situation. But here in Sublett County it would seem that the trump administration is more interested in repealing environmental regulations that benefit the County. And the republican majority of the County is happy with trump. SAD
15
I am so sorry to hear that. My husband and I used to travel to big parks to hike when we were younger. We stayed in a lodge in the Tetons and marveled at the size of those ranges; we were used to the Sierras and Lake Tahoe; the Tetons were something else with the whispering trees in the wind. You might want to put a small golf course in the middle of something, and make sure this fat lard has a golf cart available. Remember, he always gets two scoops of ice cream with desert. Small children can be paid to ask for his autograph.
1
"Nate Orders, who runs a construction company founded by his grandfather to build bridges for the state, said he had been forced to scramble for other kinds of business."
Nate, call your boy Traitor Trump. Maybe he can get you a job at minimum wage in one of his hotels. You asked for it, you got it.
Nate, call your boy Traitor Trump. Maybe he can get you a job at minimum wage in one of his hotels. You asked for it, you got it.
8
America hasn't LOOKED THIS BAD since the 1930's. The New Deal, WPA, WWII, GI Bill, etc. changed all that. It was all accomplished by a massive amount of Government spending. You know, they take your tax dollars and build you a school, water system, freeways, etc. ALL THIS was done by hiring American workers and giving them the materials to do the work. THERE WAS NO CORPORATE MIDDLE MAN! And why we've gone down that road is baffling; it's a waste of money. The Republicans, and especially Trump, represent 100% of this thinking. The Corporate Profit Method, is sold as a way to create more jobs, it doesn't; it creates less jobs. It is sold as a more cost effective way to do a project. How is that possible when corporate profits must be satisfied? Matter of fact if a project came in under budget, the Corporate bean counters would fudge the books and take the money. Here in LA, I've heard the City and County have the workers to repave every road in So Cal; they also have MOST OF THE MATERIALS; (asphalt, cement, wood and metal, etc.). But what they don't have is a Federal Bill. Because Republicans, AND DEMOCRATS, both want to hire a FOR PROFIT corporation to do oversee the work and MAXIMIZE the profits. Your tax dollars at work - for Wall St.
12
Trump, put our money where your mouth is and fix the country's infrastructure as you promised.
7
How much infrastructure could we have fixed and how many Americans jobs could we have created if we did not needlessly get involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Syria, all of which are really not our business?
Have we lost our minds?
Have we lost our minds?
17
While I agree, infrastructure in the USA is in poor condition (relative of other first and second rate nations), I'm not sure totally this should involve a national solution. Some infrastructure serves national interests (air traffic control and to a lessor degree, our largest airports), roads even the interstate highway system predominately serve and benefit the local where they reside. The Northeast built out our first interstate highways in the 1950's as toll roads, only to see the Federal government pay for 90% of the rest of the country's interstate system.
To me, Federal funds for road works equal tax money from NJ, NY and California paying for roads in Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. I say let them choose (or not) to improve their infrastructure, and we'll do the same. I'm sick of subsidising Red America.
To me, Federal funds for road works equal tax money from NJ, NY and California paying for roads in Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. I say let them choose (or not) to improve their infrastructure, and we'll do the same. I'm sick of subsidising Red America.
6
That is very shortsighted. For one thing much of the goods you purchase travel through "red states" to get to your blue state. You can have the best road in the world but it's useless unless it leads somewhere.
Of course, most people don't realize that the business model for the President's infrastructure model for roads and bridges is to turn them over to private ownership for periods of 40 years or more, allow them to charge tolls, and then claim he's saving Americans money while they pay tolls on roads they once owned. Their taxes will not go down and their living expenses will go up due to 40 years of paying tolls on roads that they paid to build.
6
You forgot to mention that Trump wants to turn private ownership of our public roads to the Saudis, already so rich they paint their walls gold. They are big on airports and private planes, miles of maintained roadways, not so much.
A Potus with real leadership skills who wanted to make a mark on the American landscape would sell an increased gas tax matched with 100 meaningful infrastructure projects. Hudson Tubes, repair of the giant aging damaged dams in CA, and Mississippi barge infrastructure are a few projects that come to mind. Trump has no plan, no organization and no political capital to get anything done here. At best we'll get some tax credits thrown at investor's in toll roads and municipal parking lots.
5
A critical problem líes in the unwillingness of the President and Congress to emphasize investment-based budgeting. An investment-based budget would stress infrastructure, research and development, human capacity, and other forms of expenditure building productivity. Instead political leadership emphasizes consumption, assuming that somehow investment takes care of itself. But if I make $5 million annually and receive a $100,000 tax cut will I go out and repair a bridge or aging sewage system? Will I put that $100,000 to work as lab equipment for a state university? Will I finance science education for an inner city school in St. Louis or enhanced reading skills in South Tucson? And not just this year but next year and the year after and the year after that? The challenge is most of our critical investment needs are collective in nature while our consumption patterns are individual. Budgeting around individual consumption will NEVER enable us to resolve our investment shortfall. That hackneyed question "Why do bureaucrats think they can spend your money better than you can?" is misleading. With proper guidance from the electorate the bureaucrats can spend it on investment far better than we can as individuals. We do not leave national defense to each individual buying a firearm and knife; instead we invest collectively in aircraft, radar, and similar expenditures. Why should critical investment be any different? Let's stop thinking consumption budgeting solves everything
7
A message to the Fake President and his Fake American supporters:
You can't cut taxes on the rich and fix the nations infrastructure at the same time, or do anything else that needs to be done. This is something that is obvious to a lot of us, but apparently not you. Go educate yourselves while there is still time.
You can't cut taxes on the rich and fix the nations infrastructure at the same time, or do anything else that needs to be done. This is something that is obvious to a lot of us, but apparently not you. Go educate yourselves while there is still time.
15
David,
They do know they can't cut taxes on the rich and do what needs to be done. They simply don't care and don't feel that we have the power to get in the way or stop them. Thus far, they are right.
They do know they can't cut taxes on the rich and do what needs to be done. They simply don't care and don't feel that we have the power to get in the way or stop them. Thus far, they are right.
1
Hmmm. Republicans control all three branches of government but can't get anything done. Lock her up!
12
OMG...Lying' Donald caught in yet another lie? Not really news but just SOP for this disgusting creature.
4
Listening to those who have traveled through Western Europe and parts of Asia, the refrain heard over and over again is that American infrastructure -- roads, railways, airports, public transit -- resembles the third world by comparison. While it is convenient to blame the current regime (and it will do next to nothing to alter the situation), the problem is long-standing with the Republicans (largely) and the Democrats (less so) sharing the blame for failing to address the problem.
9
The article is just another example that this country is now a banana republic.
What a shame! I can recall when the US had the best telecommunications, bridges, highways, underground pipes, airports, waterports, energy transmission and grid, air traffic control, etc. The Society of Civil Engineers rates US infrastructure a D-.
Compound this with a Congress that is best that money can buy and an Executive Department that has the most billionaires ever and Judiciary that will consistently side with the corporate interests with the addition of Gorsuch and please tell me is this the country that you are proud of?
What a shame! I can recall when the US had the best telecommunications, bridges, highways, underground pipes, airports, waterports, energy transmission and grid, air traffic control, etc. The Society of Civil Engineers rates US infrastructure a D-.
Compound this with a Congress that is best that money can buy and an Executive Department that has the most billionaires ever and Judiciary that will consistently side with the corporate interests with the addition of Gorsuch and please tell me is this the country that you are proud of?
15
Hey, wait a minute! This story is unfair to us New York taxpayers, whose Port Authority and MTA spend billions of dollars a year on infrastracture.
What? You mean we're supposed to have something to show for it beyond fat patronage jobs and packed trains? Oh, never mind.
What? You mean we're supposed to have something to show for it beyond fat patronage jobs and packed trains? Oh, never mind.
5
I say this all the time: "...and when almost everyone who wants a job has one..." Or 2 or 3. There are signs up everywhere for "help wanted". The roads are clogged with people trying to get to work. I live in the Boston area and the traffic during the rush hours (and I do mean hours) is horrendous. And I've driven across the country several times. The roads in Indiana and near Chicago are pathethic. Filled with potholes. Trucks anyone? Cheap gas? Lies and indoctrination? We eat those for breakfast. It's the amerikan way!
5
The failure of this White House and the republican congress to move forward on obviously needed infrastructure improvements is further evidence of how the republicans have wrecked the federal government's basic ability to do the nation's work.
5
Grover Norquist and his tax pledge are to blame as any single person could be.
6
At the same time, Republican legislatures are still in their tax cut manias. Kansas has been a prime example. Their prison system, mental hospital system and child services system are in chaos. The architects of the tax cuts refuse to admit that tax cuts have devastated the state budget by claiming "we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.
Republicans in Congress want to do the same thing with massive tax cuts that will mainly benefit the wealthy. While at the same time they will say we can't afford social safety net programs.
Republicans in Congress want to do the same thing with massive tax cuts that will mainly benefit the wealthy. While at the same time they will say we can't afford social safety net programs.
4
If it doesn't involve helo-pads (or whatever they call helicopter ports), he's not interested.
2
Raising gas taxes is good in two ways: first, it taxes those who USE roads. Secondly, it discourages increased gasoline usage, and in turn global warming and pollution.
4
Yes, but...
If we want user-based taxes to pay for roads, the trend towards higher MPG vehicles (and the likely future of electric and other non-gas cars) means shrinking revenue as users (and costs) continue to increase.
If we want user-based taxes to pay for roads, the trend towards higher MPG vehicles (and the likely future of electric and other non-gas cars) means shrinking revenue as users (and costs) continue to increase.
1
You don't use roads? What, do you deliver the mail in your town walking from door to door? If you order something, anything, to be delivered to your address, how do you think that something arrives? You are like the Luddites who protested against any industrial progress, as in automated mills which replaced child labor with automation. We all use roads, actively or passively; we no longer travel from town to city via paths through forests, cgo.
Our grandparents and great grandparents created and paid for this infrastructure that is now crumbling. We're too selfish to maintain what we were given. We deserve what we're reaping.
5
MAGA means FixAmericaGoodAgain (FAGA)
There should be town halls as were for health insurance!
This is an essential issue that Trump must not be allowed to fudge.
There should be town halls as were for health insurance!
This is an essential issue that Trump must not be allowed to fudge.
2
“It’s always easier to defer new construction than to stop paying people who are on the payroll or the welfare rolls,” he said. “A lot of states are under real stress.”
This line says it all and explains why even blue states aren't investing in infrastructure. I would be interested to see a comparison between transportation and employee/pension funding over time.
This line says it all and explains why even blue states aren't investing in infrastructure. I would be interested to see a comparison between transportation and employee/pension funding over time.
1
Ignore the promised 1Tr unicorn-infrastructure project like all the other empty promises that the Liar-In-Chief made. Instead, let the current infrastructure crumble by lowering taxes even further. To the loyal base, that's winning bigly! Watch out for potholes on the way home from the Winning-Ralleys!
1
Scratch a Trump acolyte, and you will likely find someone who's never been across the USA, let alone seen Japan's bullet trains, or Europe and China's mass-transit/airport/freeway/dam/water and sewage treatment infrastructure.
"So a bridge collapses now and then. Hey, stuff happens. At least Trump won't let us become like Europe. USA! USA!"
If you've never traveled, you are likely to buy the Trump/Ryan/McConnell con job that the rest of the world is a 3rd-world sinkhole and we are exceptional.
Exceptionally stupid, that is.
"So a bridge collapses now and then. Hey, stuff happens. At least Trump won't let us become like Europe. USA! USA!"
If you've never traveled, you are likely to buy the Trump/Ryan/McConnell con job that the rest of the world is a 3rd-world sinkhole and we are exceptional.
Exceptionally stupid, that is.
6
This country is starting to remind me of the Roman empire all you have to do is look at it the Romans built great things and then they started on the quest of imperialism and started to neglect the home front and then the Roman empire. It is going the same way for the US right now we built the Interstate system that put America on the map and then we started doing one military adventure after another all the while forgetting about taking care of the home front now you look at the results of it. It is time we take care of the home front or our empire will fall.
21
It's not going to happen. The GOP will not raise taxes on anyone but the middle and working classes and that's because we're too busy working to hire lobbyists to plead our cause with the current administration or any other administration.
Good infrastructure, like a functioning health care system and an excellent educational system, doesn't happen without government interest and investment. Private companies will only invest where it makes sense for them to invest. Government, if it's not being run like a business, ought to invest where it needs to invest which is not just the most heavily populated areas of the country or where people like the party in power. It's inefficient and idiotic for us to keep on neglecting our infrastructure. But we will because too many Americans keep on voting for the GOP and believing that government is the problem. They are correct but it's the GOP run government that's the problem.
Good infrastructure, like a functioning health care system and an excellent educational system, doesn't happen without government interest and investment. Private companies will only invest where it makes sense for them to invest. Government, if it's not being run like a business, ought to invest where it needs to invest which is not just the most heavily populated areas of the country or where people like the party in power. It's inefficient and idiotic for us to keep on neglecting our infrastructure. But we will because too many Americans keep on voting for the GOP and believing that government is the problem. They are correct but it's the GOP run government that's the problem.
6
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in an African country, I remember little kids standing by the road with shovels. If you paid them a few cents, they would fill some of the holes in the road. To right-wing ideologues and, sorry for lumping you in with them, libertarian types, this is an ideal state of affairs. Rural roads stink because few people use them and therefore few resources should be devoted to their upkeep. Infrastructure in wealthy areas is good because people in these regions can afford to pay for it. Where. Are. We. Going?
9
I can't say where we're going, but this is where the money's going: https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-youre-riding-through-hell-1500070649
1
Kids in this county ( rich and poor ) would never fill holes in our roads.
Their mommies and daddies would fear for their injury.
Their mommies and daddies would fear for their injury.
1
Anyone who has ever driven a car in France since 2000 is amazed at the quality of the roads. Ours are third world. Ditto trains. I seriously doubt if anything will be done so long as Trump sits in the White House.
21
I rode high speed trains in France, Spain, and China. Then I rode Amtrak from NYC to Boston. Stopped for "repair" work, track diversion, etc. Grateful to not have had recent back surgery at that time, or anyplace I needed to be on time.
The knee-jerk Republican desire of always looking to cut taxes (especially on the wealthy) and no tax hikes, even temporary, is one of the main culprits behind America's deteriorating infrastructure. This predates Trump.
This stubborn thinking that cutting taxes will magically lead to economic growth causes us a lot of trouble, from blooming deficits to starving the government of needed funds to do what a continent-spanning superpower needs to do, health care to building roads.
This stubborn thinking that cutting taxes will magically lead to economic growth causes us a lot of trouble, from blooming deficits to starving the government of needed funds to do what a continent-spanning superpower needs to do, health care to building roads.
47
The Saudis have offered to fund our roadways in exchange for the right to collect tolls . . . oh wait.
Remember all the jobs Reagan's tax cuts provided? I don't either.
The last time the federal tax on gasoline was raised was in 1993; and it was increased by only 4.1 cents and not indexed to inflation! If we want a 21st century infrastructure as President Trump promised, then we have to be willing to pay for it. With gasoline prices low, it's time to raise the federal gas tax by 25 cents a gallon and index it to inflation.
15
Don the treasonous self-serving con. It is safe to assume that everything that he says, writes or tweets is a lie.
8
Public works Teump style. Build a wall on our southern border.
2
Didn't Dr. Krugman conclude very recently that because the economy is now doing well, it is not a good idea to spend a trillion bucks on infrastructure? In 2009, yes; but not now.
Remember: Keynes said to tax heavily in good times; invest heavily in bad times. To every thing, there is a season, thus sayeth the Preacher.
If you can't trust Krugman, Keynes, and Ecclesiastes, who can you trust?
Remember: Keynes said to tax heavily in good times; invest heavily in bad times. To every thing, there is a season, thus sayeth the Preacher.
If you can't trust Krugman, Keynes, and Ecclesiastes, who can you trust?
4
I was in Malaysia last summer, Colombia this summer. In both these places their trains and public transit were phenomenal compared to some public transit in the US. Just the airport in Kuala Lumpur was something you would never see in the US. The trains in Colombia were super clean and on time.
What I wonder every time I travel is why the "richest country on earth" seems to have none of the richest things. Yes we have opportunity, some upwards mobility, etc. but how can you succeed if you can't even drive safely to your job because of potholes?
What I wonder every time I travel is why the "richest country on earth" seems to have none of the richest things. Yes we have opportunity, some upwards mobility, etc. but how can you succeed if you can't even drive safely to your job because of potholes?
18
Given the density of congressional brains, our only hope is for a bridge to collapse while a member of congress is riding on it.
They think about regular people only when they have to be one.
They think about regular people only when they have to be one.
8
Meanwhile in Beijing - those uninnovative Chinese are topping off their already excellent public subway system by starting test runs on a 10 kilometer 10 stops magnetic levitation (mag lev) train track. The new trains float about 1 centimeter above the rails using magnetic levitation technology thus reducing friction creating a faster and smoother ride.The trains are to be in use by the public at the end of this year. China is currently working on development of mag lev trains that can reach 600 km/h and make the trip from Shanghai to Beijing in two hours. Developers plan to have them in place by 2021. This is in addition to China's national high speed rail network which everyone in the country is already benefiting from. Foolish Chinese. Don't they know that a nation's treasury should be depeleted on serious investments like decades long foreign wars that profit the weapons system sector and pay dividends in increased terrorism and bailouts of private financial institutions that impoverish the country while enriching a few ("Because, you know ... if we didn't give them the money back in 2008 our ATMs would have stopped working.") Ah well hopefully the Chinese will smarten up!
12
40 Years of Grover Norquist and fake conservatives has starved the US of the funds needed to main our infrastructure so that we give tax breaks to wealthy political donors.
Chris Christy's abandoned NJ to support his bid for higher office. You can't be a republican and spend money on anything in your state and then run nationally- they will call you tax and spend. The real question is why so many tolerate the conditions we now live in and continue to elect republicans that promise to cut more taxes which only makes it worse.
It is all about the details. Who pays what and the real effective tax rate. It is very frustrating to discuss with people who can only view their situation as being intolerable and over taxed and not see the big picture. Most people think very short term - that needs to change.
Chris Christy's abandoned NJ to support his bid for higher office. You can't be a republican and spend money on anything in your state and then run nationally- they will call you tax and spend. The real question is why so many tolerate the conditions we now live in and continue to elect republicans that promise to cut more taxes which only makes it worse.
It is all about the details. Who pays what and the real effective tax rate. It is very frustrating to discuss with people who can only view their situation as being intolerable and over taxed and not see the big picture. Most people think very short term - that needs to change.
11
Infrastructure spending is being help hostage by Democrats who refuse to
cut giveaway spending to finance it.
Its that simple.
The answer is to cut welfare (includes Medicaid, food stamps, the "give money away" part of the earned income "tax credit") and spend it on infrastructure. Hey rid of illegal aliens who otherwise would snap up the
created jobs, and get men from central cities and rust belt back woods like West Virginia to move to where the infrastructure jobs are.
Democrats, of course, don't like that because it reduces their base which is dependant on handouts.
Its that simple.
cut giveaway spending to finance it.
Its that simple.
The answer is to cut welfare (includes Medicaid, food stamps, the "give money away" part of the earned income "tax credit") and spend it on infrastructure. Hey rid of illegal aliens who otherwise would snap up the
created jobs, and get men from central cities and rust belt back woods like West Virginia to move to where the infrastructure jobs are.
Democrats, of course, don't like that because it reduces their base which is dependant on handouts.
Its that simple.
People in red states receive the most in welfare benefits. People in densely populated blue cities and states should stop subsidizing people in red states.
Neither legal nor illegal immigrants are snapping up the decent jobs. That's xenophobic-based myth.
If Republicans want to cut welfare, they should cut the largest programs first: Social Security and Medicare. That's Paul Ryan's plan. Why hasn't he acted on it? Because every time he gets ready to cut these *entitlements,* hypocritical Republican voters protest the loudest.
The majority of people who had the wherewithal to vote last November, voted Democratic, because they know the national economy usually fares better under Democratic administrations.
Neither legal nor illegal immigrants are snapping up the decent jobs. That's xenophobic-based myth.
If Republicans want to cut welfare, they should cut the largest programs first: Social Security and Medicare. That's Paul Ryan's plan. Why hasn't he acted on it? Because every time he gets ready to cut these *entitlements,* hypocritical Republican voters protest the loudest.
The majority of people who had the wherewithal to vote last November, voted Democratic, because they know the national economy usually fares better under Democratic administrations.
1
It seems to me that trump's Appalachia base is the segment of US society that is begging for and expecting handouts from trump.
2
Wow!
This really should not surprise anyone, except the Kool Aid drinkers who swallowed the lies told by the Liar In Chief and his Republican cohorts. None of them have any intention of spending money to help the 99%. Their SOLE objective is to serve the 1%, Corporate America, and the investor class. They are believers in the Cult of Trickle Down, which promises that the mountain of riches gathered at the top will surely flow down to the rest of us. They demonstrate ushakable belief in the face of decades of proof to the contrary.
And this has nothing to do with economics or balancing the budget because if we enjoyed the widespread prosperity that America had prior to Reaganomics, more people would be working at higher paying jobs and as a result would paying higher taxes and the deficit would be reduced.
No, what this is all about is simple GREED. The more the 1% get, the more they want. If you wait for them to allow any of their wealth to "trickle down" on you, you won't be needing a towel, that's for sure.
And this has nothing to do with economics or balancing the budget because if we enjoyed the widespread prosperity that America had prior to Reaganomics, more people would be working at higher paying jobs and as a result would paying higher taxes and the deficit would be reduced.
No, what this is all about is simple GREED. The more the 1% get, the more they want. If you wait for them to allow any of their wealth to "trickle down" on you, you won't be needing a towel, that's for sure.
14
The Trump base wants for the whole country what they already have - dilapidation and decay.
7
Anyone with a functional brain can see where THIS is going. Privatization.
The usual GOP playbook, private profits, THEN the taxpayers cover all the
" cost overruns", the mistakes, the clean-ups. That's how they roll.
The usual GOP playbook, private profits, THEN the taxpayers cover all the
" cost overruns", the mistakes, the clean-ups. That's how they roll.
25
Yes, check out the nuclear facilities in Republican controlled S.C. The taxpayers are on the hook for millions of millions while the utilities are raking in the dough.
Eric Prince, the Blackwater private mercenary army guy, who is Betsy DeVos' brother, wants Trump to turn Afghanistan over to him. Let's spend our taxpayer dollars murdering Afghan people with a private contractor army, that is much more important than having safe roads and bridges.
12
another Trump lie. Are we still counting?
4
We are heading for uncontrollable debt driven deflation. My view.
Government spending can address this concern if, and only if, the national budget can sustain the additional debt.
President Clinton got it. Congressman now Gov. John Kasich got it. These two were unique in their understanding.
A president that files multiple times is not equipped to manage what we face. A president with an addiction problem may be ill equiped.
It's clear that Trump is troubled. He lies. He bullies. And he promises the moon and cannot deliver - thank God.
Infrastructure needs attention. Costly attention. It's more costly to ignore this. And it's dreadful to build or rebuild incorrectly.
We do not have good management in government. We have graft.
Enough said.
Congress must shape up.
Government spending can address this concern if, and only if, the national budget can sustain the additional debt.
President Clinton got it. Congressman now Gov. John Kasich got it. These two were unique in their understanding.
A president that files multiple times is not equipped to manage what we face. A president with an addiction problem may be ill equiped.
It's clear that Trump is troubled. He lies. He bullies. And he promises the moon and cannot deliver - thank God.
Infrastructure needs attention. Costly attention. It's more costly to ignore this. And it's dreadful to build or rebuild incorrectly.
We do not have good management in government. We have graft.
Enough said.
Congress must shape up.
5
This is really nothing new. The GOP doesn't spend money it doesn't have - but it is more than willing to cut taxes so more of the budget is uncovered by tax revenue. Until Americans wake up and smell the coffee nothing will be done. One would think we could very easily finance a $1Tr infrastructure program focused on existing, known issues like deficient bridges, new roads, and most importantly, public transportation. We have had two high profile interstate bridge collapses in the last 15 years (Minneapolis & Atlanta), but nobody is talking about spending money to do something.
Make it simple: raise the gas tax 10 -= 50 cents a gallon now that gas is relatively low and designate those funds to repay a few trillion in public bond debt for improvements. Risk rate the projects to insure the most important are completed, then use the remaining money to pay for the ones that make the most sense. For example, in many areas public transit is a more efficient way to move people that needs rehabilitation, modification, and additions. In other areas, it might be that new roads or a true loop road are required.
It is not rocket science. However, nothing will happen until voters force the issue. That will mean many Republican mainstream voters need to stand up and be heard instead of letting the lunatic fringe of the party control the debate.
Make it simple: raise the gas tax 10 -= 50 cents a gallon now that gas is relatively low and designate those funds to repay a few trillion in public bond debt for improvements. Risk rate the projects to insure the most important are completed, then use the remaining money to pay for the ones that make the most sense. For example, in many areas public transit is a more efficient way to move people that needs rehabilitation, modification, and additions. In other areas, it might be that new roads or a true loop road are required.
It is not rocket science. However, nothing will happen until voters force the issue. That will mean many Republican mainstream voters need to stand up and be heard instead of letting the lunatic fringe of the party control the debate.
8
The GOP has been very willing to squander trillions of tax dollars on foolish wars and bloated defense budgets. Presumably the owners of the military industrial complex reward them handsomely for it. Meanwhile too much of the nation's work (infrastructure improvements, urban renewal, education, job training, environmental protection, etc.) remains undone.
4
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the United States actually needs to spend around 4.5 trillion dollars before 2025 in order to update our infrastructure. It's not just roads either. We consistently score a D in almost every category. The ASCE doesn't even track digital infrastructures like connectivity either. $800 billion in paid incentives is a joke.
The problem is worse than you might expect too. The longer you wait to restore infrastructure, the more it costs to replace. Witness the recent report on the MTA subway signal system. I'm sure they could get the repair done in a few years rather than the 50 year estimate. However, the cost in both labor and disruption is going to be astronomical. NYC should have started the project about 40 years ago.
Look at it this way: The average American household loses an estimated $3,400 a year due to neglected infrastructure according to the ASCE. You're paying a $3,400 a year to not pay for infrastructure repair. By not taxing anyone, we're actually taxing everyone in return for nothing. The headaches and inconvenience are actually a negative return on investment.
If you don't want a gas tax, fine. How about a property tax then? Maybe a capital gains tax instead. The point is: We need to tax someone. These projects aren't getting any younger while we wait. You've had a lifetime to do the right thing here. Ten years ago was the time to stop procrastinating. We're still waiting.
The problem is worse than you might expect too. The longer you wait to restore infrastructure, the more it costs to replace. Witness the recent report on the MTA subway signal system. I'm sure they could get the repair done in a few years rather than the 50 year estimate. However, the cost in both labor and disruption is going to be astronomical. NYC should have started the project about 40 years ago.
Look at it this way: The average American household loses an estimated $3,400 a year due to neglected infrastructure according to the ASCE. You're paying a $3,400 a year to not pay for infrastructure repair. By not taxing anyone, we're actually taxing everyone in return for nothing. The headaches and inconvenience are actually a negative return on investment.
If you don't want a gas tax, fine. How about a property tax then? Maybe a capital gains tax instead. The point is: We need to tax someone. These projects aren't getting any younger while we wait. You've had a lifetime to do the right thing here. Ten years ago was the time to stop procrastinating. We're still waiting.
13
The Trump administration has done nothing but destroy consumer and environmental protections to make the rich richer and the majority less safe.
4
It is time to rejoice. For the country's geopolitical rivals and enemies. The vast military expenditures and military global hegemony don't fill even one domestic pothole.
7
“Another challenge is that workers are getting harder to find. Jobs in highway construction in July were 2.6 percent below the prerecession level. With fewer people working in road-building — and when almost everyone who wants a job has one — the industry can’t simply restock from the pool of unemployed workers.”
The US construction industry relies on foreign born workers at significant levels and it is estimated the 23 percent of the US construction work force is 23%. The current crackdown on immigrants means contractors cannot steadily rely on immigrant labor and will not risk their business to bid future work if they don’t have the labor to perform.
At a time when the US needs workers the most, a large portion of labor lives in fear of being captured and deported.
This problem could be solved by the current administration easily. It would start with curtailing work site raids by ICE that drive immigrants underground. A program for a path to citizenship would allow immigrants to work without fear of deportation while they pay taxes and prepare to become US citizens.
Immigrants built this country at the beginning of the last century and helped make the US into an economic powerhouse. Today’s immigrants could do the same.
The US construction industry relies on foreign born workers at significant levels and it is estimated the 23 percent of the US construction work force is 23%. The current crackdown on immigrants means contractors cannot steadily rely on immigrant labor and will not risk their business to bid future work if they don’t have the labor to perform.
At a time when the US needs workers the most, a large portion of labor lives in fear of being captured and deported.
This problem could be solved by the current administration easily. It would start with curtailing work site raids by ICE that drive immigrants underground. A program for a path to citizenship would allow immigrants to work without fear of deportation while they pay taxes and prepare to become US citizens.
Immigrants built this country at the beginning of the last century and helped make the US into an economic powerhouse. Today’s immigrants could do the same.
5
We need practical and fair solutions to the real problem of a crumbling Infrastucture .
However an infrastructure program must be paid for by all those who will benefit from it.
This includes importers and I would impose an infrastructure tax of about 3 per cent on imports which will yield about $150 billion in revenue per annum mainly derived from petroleum imports .
Most likely such a program will raise the value of the US$ which will offset potential inflation.
It may also encourage greater energy independence.
However an infrastructure program must be paid for by all those who will benefit from it.
This includes importers and I would impose an infrastructure tax of about 3 per cent on imports which will yield about $150 billion in revenue per annum mainly derived from petroleum imports .
Most likely such a program will raise the value of the US$ which will offset potential inflation.
It may also encourage greater energy independence.
1
Whether you read about millions of uninsured Americans, an educational system in decay with $1.4 trillion of debt amassed or our crumbling infrastructure, the underlying problem is the same: The Monoculture of turbo capitalism is NOT working! It is failing the same way pseudo-communism has failed in East book countries.
It is time we acknowledge that if we want a thriving society, it means we all pitch in, we all work on it together. It is that process of lifting up as many as possible that generates real progress, social coherence, safety and contentment, and ultimately a happy society. Only communal efforts can accomplish that, not an eye for eye culture of individualism bordering on narcissism.The culmination of that utter failure is showcased to the world every tweet over by you know who.
So we all pay for those essential human needs like healthcare, education, infrastructure and utilities - yes, with our taxes! Or simply sweat and labor as during the New Deal. And no worries, taxes and the free market can work very well together, but the relationship needs to be monitored and managed right. It can be done.
Taxes are the eternal evil in this country, but everyone wants to drive their car in total freedom, have clean drinking water, a healthy environment. So let's go ahead and fund the society we want. Because when we pay taxes, we also create ownership, and ownership is a big part of what this country is about. We just need to change the story from the ME to the WE.
It is time we acknowledge that if we want a thriving society, it means we all pitch in, we all work on it together. It is that process of lifting up as many as possible that generates real progress, social coherence, safety and contentment, and ultimately a happy society. Only communal efforts can accomplish that, not an eye for eye culture of individualism bordering on narcissism.The culmination of that utter failure is showcased to the world every tweet over by you know who.
So we all pay for those essential human needs like healthcare, education, infrastructure and utilities - yes, with our taxes! Or simply sweat and labor as during the New Deal. And no worries, taxes and the free market can work very well together, but the relationship needs to be monitored and managed right. It can be done.
Taxes are the eternal evil in this country, but everyone wants to drive their car in total freedom, have clean drinking water, a healthy environment. So let's go ahead and fund the society we want. Because when we pay taxes, we also create ownership, and ownership is a big part of what this country is about. We just need to change the story from the ME to the WE.
32
I am already paying taxes, sorry!
Middle class people ARE paying taxes. It's large corporations and the wealthy that are not paying. My very average American income was taxed at the 28% rate last year, + school taxes, + sales taxes, + county taxes, etc. My guess is 50% of my money goes to taxes. We know Romney only paid a 10% rate on $100 million because somehow he managed to earn most of his money in an IRA. I'd love to know that trick as my accountant told me I can only invest $6,000/year on mine.
Our infrastructure is bad and also our tax code!
Middle class people ARE paying taxes. It's large corporations and the wealthy that are not paying. My very average American income was taxed at the 28% rate last year, + school taxes, + sales taxes, + county taxes, etc. My guess is 50% of my money goes to taxes. We know Romney only paid a 10% rate on $100 million because somehow he managed to earn most of his money in an IRA. I'd love to know that trick as my accountant told me I can only invest $6,000/year on mine.
Our infrastructure is bad and also our tax code!
1
Please define "free market" when the means of production are controlled by a small group of plutocrats who also own the government via big donors buying influence. Do you mean the small number of survivors on Main streets trying to compete with Wal Mart and Target? These are the remnants of what you think of as a "free market". That is as big a myth as Reagan's "Shining City on a Hill".
1
the is irresponsible to not maintain what you own. When my house needs repairs I forgo the vacation or a few evenings out, even borrow money if need be, to keep things in good repair. I am appalled when I hear what deferred maintenance of schools and roads will cost. Maintenance is always cheaper than rebuilding. Raise taxes, get get everything job done before it all crumbles around us.
4
OK, before we blame everything on everything on Republican tax policy (which may be pathologically impossible for many NYT readers) let's check the facts.
Since the 1940's federal tax revenues have shown a constant trend, with an average of about 18% of GDP. Short-term fluctuations range from 15% to 20%. So despite rhetoric from both sides, federal tax revenue has been relatively constant (and, of course, increasing in absolute dollars proportionately with GDP).
State and local tax revenues are harder to document, but at least some have increased rates over time. NY state shows increasing revenue over at least the past decade.
What has changed significantly through time is the basic spending distribution.
Citing data compiled by Planet Money (from OMB sources), defense spending is down from over 50% to about 20%. SS spending is up from 13% to 20%. Medicare plus Medicaid went from 1% to 23%. Safety net programs went from 6% to 13%. What does that leave to fund infrastructure? Transportation went from about 4% to 2%. And their "everything else" category went from 15% t0 12%.
NY state spending on health has more than tripled since 1990 (and gone from 12% to 22% of the state budget).
To restore infrastructure budgets would require significant increases in tax revenues, or reduction in other spending categories.
Since the 1940's federal tax revenues have shown a constant trend, with an average of about 18% of GDP. Short-term fluctuations range from 15% to 20%. So despite rhetoric from both sides, federal tax revenue has been relatively constant (and, of course, increasing in absolute dollars proportionately with GDP).
State and local tax revenues are harder to document, but at least some have increased rates over time. NY state shows increasing revenue over at least the past decade.
What has changed significantly through time is the basic spending distribution.
Citing data compiled by Planet Money (from OMB sources), defense spending is down from over 50% to about 20%. SS spending is up from 13% to 20%. Medicare plus Medicaid went from 1% to 23%. Safety net programs went from 6% to 13%. What does that leave to fund infrastructure? Transportation went from about 4% to 2%. And their "everything else" category went from 15% t0 12%.
NY state spending on health has more than tripled since 1990 (and gone from 12% to 22% of the state budget).
To restore infrastructure budgets would require significant increases in tax revenues, or reduction in other spending categories.
Defense could be cut. We spend about the same as the next 8 countries combined.
12
Do away with Davis Bacon and you'll be amazed at how much funding suddenly materializes
Trump prefers to reopen coal mines to add a few jobs instead adding millions of jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure which is falling apart. We are becoming a third world country in every sense of the meaning.
9
Lets just throw a couple trillion dollars to build few more super-aircraft carriers and boondoggle aircraft, to protect, what? Failing roads, bridges, dams, buildings, inadequate internet services, crippled healthcare coverage, etc., etc.
Hey, at least we're "free" to risk crossing those bridges on low-cost gas!
Hey, at least we're "free" to risk crossing those bridges on low-cost gas!
5
I am just so sick of the partisanship with regards to infrastructure when are we just going to get it together and fix it once and for all. It is like this the infrastructure is the main thing in your economy and you wonder our economy does not grow that much it is one of two reason one being the infrastructure and then two the wealth inequality in America. The longer we put off this stuff the more it is going to cost us in the long run. What is so shocking is the amount of money we spent in that foolish war in Iraq we could have spent that money on the infrastructure because right now according to CNN it would take $4.6 T dollars.
6
Asphalt, the simple black stuff many of drive on.
Almost all asphalt used these days comes from petroleum crude oil.
Crude oil is still well below $60 a barrel and we should be making asphalt by the 100 mile while the price of oil is low.
What are we doing instead?
Waiting for the latest burst of tweets!
Dysfunctional, thy name is Trump.
Almost all asphalt used these days comes from petroleum crude oil.
Crude oil is still well below $60 a barrel and we should be making asphalt by the 100 mile while the price of oil is low.
What are we doing instead?
Waiting for the latest burst of tweets!
Dysfunctional, thy name is Trump.
7
This is one of the most ironic things about Trump's term of mostly miserable failures. If at the start of his administration he had proclaimed that he would hold off on all the partisan debates, even health care, and first fix our nation's infrastructure, people would have loved it. If he'd proposed raising some taxes on the wealthiest to pay for a trillion dollar infrastructure program, hiring Americans to do it, and repairing and modernizing all of our major infrastructure, everyone would have gone along with it. The Democrats want these improvements, and the Republicans would have overcome their resistance to spending because of the new administration needing support.
It would have worked out completely differently, Trump's approval would have been 20 or 30 points higher by now, the economy would have been aided, it'd have been a delightful surprise for everyone that voted against him.
But he missed his shot, and he's not focused on it now, so we will have to wait for the necessary infrastructure repairs until he's out of office. Yet again, Trump blew it, due to his flaws: ignorance, lack of attention span, narcissism, and inability to bring people together.
It would have worked out completely differently, Trump's approval would have been 20 or 30 points higher by now, the economy would have been aided, it'd have been a delightful surprise for everyone that voted against him.
But he missed his shot, and he's not focused on it now, so we will have to wait for the necessary infrastructure repairs until he's out of office. Yet again, Trump blew it, due to his flaws: ignorance, lack of attention span, narcissism, and inability to bring people together.
7
Unfortunately, we are in a time of extreme Right Wing leadership all around. With this approach to government, you let government fail by barely giving any money to public projects such as infrastructure. You then let those projects fail, repeat your mantra while pointing at the failed project, "see, government doesn't work, let's see if the private sector would do better!" Next you give the private sector, meaning your rich friends, the contracts. When those companies fail,they go bankrupt, and another company comes along with the same services. Those at the top stay wealthy. If citizens start catching on you start a war and put up lots of flags to prove without a doubt you are the most patriotic Americans alive.
7
This lack of infrastructure spending represents the perfect storm of long-standing, right wing ideological opposition to public investment converging with Trump administration incompetence at addressing a national need that it a more competent crew would be able to build bilateral support to address.
6
This is a horrendous disaster waiting to happen. President Trump crowed about his infrastructure ideas during the campaign. Where are they now? There are safety issues and human lives at stake here. What more will it take for our government officials to put aside their own selfish interests and partisan bickering to do what is required and is horribly overdue? Are they waiting for the next Minnesota bridge disaster?
30
If the Federal Gas Tax is raised, the effect is to pump money from those states that have already raised state gas taxes like WA to those states that haven't, like WV.
There is a huge difference in the infrastructure quality by state, with WA and OR ranked highest, along with UT, NV, ND, SD, MN, CO, NE and IL.
The bottom is shared by the states of MS, TX, AR, OK, WV, KY, SC, NC, MI and OH, which would benefit from large inflows of tax revenues from other states if Federal gas taxes were raised.
If you want to maintain and improve infrastructure, pay for it locally and enjoy the benefits of higher investment and employment.
There is a huge difference in the infrastructure quality by state, with WA and OR ranked highest, along with UT, NV, ND, SD, MN, CO, NE and IL.
The bottom is shared by the states of MS, TX, AR, OK, WV, KY, SC, NC, MI and OH, which would benefit from large inflows of tax revenues from other states if Federal gas taxes were raised.
If you want to maintain and improve infrastructure, pay for it locally and enjoy the benefits of higher investment and employment.
10
Sorry, Looking, but I have to disagree with you. Raising the gas tax may seem to be 'answer' but in fact is not. Raising the gas tax is regressive; it penalizes those least able to pay it, but most importantly, it doesn't address the fact that our government is being lead by politicians who are paid by their corporate benefactors to misdirect taxpayer monies we actually already have, towards dead-end military-infrastructure projects overseas. Spending 10 billion dollars to fix bridges and roads in Afghanistan, Iraq means that money goes down the proverbial domestic drain. The problem isn't the gas tax per se. It's funding misappropriation. Also, here in NC? We have the second largest interstate road system miles wise in the nation and we have one of the lowest gas taxes in the country. Our roads? Rated the second best in the nation.
4
Amazing coincidence how the states with the worst infrastructure are red and the states with the better infrastructure are blue. I'm sure the roads to the billionaires' homes in the red states are beautiful, though.
4
Another problem with roads is simply where they are located. Roads up north get hammered every year by the winters. Salt, freeze and thaw, truck traffic pounding them heading to the major population areas. I would imagine a road down south, where there is no hard winter, would last years longer.
4
Binya,
Mary Williams Walsh adds and subtracts and projects. San Juan and others are learning. They are the canary, we are the mine shafted.
No free lunch, Binya.
The nation has borrowed itself into a hole. Digging deeper is a form of denial.
Denial never works.
Mary Williams Walsh adds and subtracts and projects. San Juan and others are learning. They are the canary, we are the mine shafted.
No free lunch, Binya.
The nation has borrowed itself into a hole. Digging deeper is a form of denial.
Denial never works.
4
OK worry warts, what's all the kerfuffle? After all he . . . PROMISED:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCWCRquC_r0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCWCRquC_r0
3
Private citizen traytoor Grover Norquist needs dealt with...bigly. Then those who signed and abide to his traitorous pledge. Seriously.
13
Were Charles Dickens alive and writing today he would have a plethora of delicious material about lot-o-people fancy people, especially our current President. Actually Don the Con would neatly fit into "The Artful Dodger sly role.
Oh, here is another factoid about the selfish sly Rich. Here in our little village of Southampton New York we share a zip code with David Koch of Koch Industries.
Our local TV station reported recently that the Koch estate in 11968 has consumed so far in 2017 SIX MILLION gallons of public water. Typical household consumption for an entire year for normal humans is 100,000 as per the Suffolk County Water Authority representative queried. Just say'N?
Con-Don is not alone, there are lots of them.
Oh, here is another factoid about the selfish sly Rich. Here in our little village of Southampton New York we share a zip code with David Koch of Koch Industries.
Our local TV station reported recently that the Koch estate in 11968 has consumed so far in 2017 SIX MILLION gallons of public water. Typical household consumption for an entire year for normal humans is 100,000 as per the Suffolk County Water Authority representative queried. Just say'N?
Con-Don is not alone, there are lots of them.
21
The answers are very simple. Tax your richest far more for a start, and stop spending so much on weapons and wars. Re-nationalise prisons, healthcare and other public good enterprises because it is obvious that monetisation of these type of services does more harm than good.
48
This is, among Republicans, and including Trump, setting the stage for selling more of the public infrastructure to private companies. A refusal to fund necessary projects, ( despite boasts of a great economy) or to finance them, will let more and more deteriorate, until it looks impossible for government at any level to get support for repairs - - - at which time turning them over to private entities will be sold as the only solution.
3
Congress's refusal to increase the gas tax shows how gutless our politicians are. All they care about is reducing taxes for the rich and winning their next election.
8
When they do raise they (like a lot of state legislators) then spend on other things and again bemoan a lack of funds.
3
But, but, but... I thought he pledged $1 trillion for this! He even said, "We will create the first class infrastructure our country and our people deserve," Trump said in Cincinnati. I guess he's right about one thing; I'm tired of all this "winning."
10
Why is this Trump's fault?
"public works spending has fallen for FIVE straight years" and Congress won't consider a gas tax increase.
Funny, Trump has only been president for seven months and he is already working on an infrastructure plan. Democrats had their chance for eight years but instead strangled the economy and focused on handouts so the country couldn't afford to invest in infrastructure.
"public works spending has fallen for FIVE straight years" and Congress won't consider a gas tax increase.
Funny, Trump has only been president for seven months and he is already working on an infrastructure plan. Democrats had their chance for eight years but instead strangled the economy and focused on handouts so the country couldn't afford to invest in infrastructure.
1
Democrats wanted to, but the Republican congress was quick to tamp out any hope of that. Didn't want the prior Administration to get any credit for desperately needed infrastructure investment, hiring increases, etc.
1
The Republican Congress killed Obama's Jobs Bill which included infrastructure spending; they loaded it with poison pills they knew Democrats would not accept, too many to amend. So Republicans trashed infrastructure repair and maintenance; they trashed funding for higher education and health care. All of those would have created productive jobs. Now this feckless bunch are spending most of their time in home States campaigning for the next election. Trump is already holding rallies for reelection in 2020. If reelection funding could pay for some road repair, or some Pell grants, or free school lunches for poor kids, okay. Unfortunately, reelection funding only keeps smarmy Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell in D.C. We would do better volunteering in our public libraries or soup kitchens.
You go to the poor parts of Europe -- not even Paris or Hamburg -- and are just blown away by the modern infrastructure. Naples has a gorgeous metro with "art" stations that will blow your mind. Marseille has a modern tunnel underneath the entire historic center. I dare you to find a pothole anywhere in Slovenia -- and, also, amazing tunnels and bridges from small seaside cities to the highways connected to Ljubljana. Sofia, Bulgaria is building more new metro stations in a decade than New York has in over 50 years.
Here's the reality, folks: the USA will never, ever catch up on infrastructure (public works/transit or social) with the rest of the world. At this point, given our corrupt oligarchic government, it's just impossible. Europe and Asia are just too far ahead of us.
I'm not trying to troll my fellow Americans, but just being honest. It's too late. Enjoy the "freedom bombs!" And, Israel, enjoy your modern trams and high-speed rail -- you're welcome.
Here's the reality, folks: the USA will never, ever catch up on infrastructure (public works/transit or social) with the rest of the world. At this point, given our corrupt oligarchic government, it's just impossible. Europe and Asia are just too far ahead of us.
I'm not trying to troll my fellow Americans, but just being honest. It's too late. Enjoy the "freedom bombs!" And, Israel, enjoy your modern trams and high-speed rail -- you're welcome.
47
I'll take freedom of speech and wide open spaces over "modern" crowded cities with "fancy" trams that have a web of overhead electric lines. Urban renewal in the 60s was an example in why new isn't necessarily better but you don't realize it untill after.
Comparing the United States to Europe is futile. If you like Europe so much, you should just move there and reduce the population of DC so it can become great again.
Comparing the United States to Europe is futile. If you like Europe so much, you should just move there and reduce the population of DC so it can become great again.
I'm not sure I agree we can't catch up, but I vigorously agree on one point: Americans who travel see just how far behind we've fallen -- In infrastructure, but also in healthcare, childcare, work/life balance, and other areas.
Europe's somewhat more socialized mixed economies certainly have their problems and rigidities. But there's a lot they're doing better than America, shackled by our free-market fantasies, will ever do.
Europe's somewhat more socialized mixed economies certainly have their problems and rigidities. But there's a lot they're doing better than America, shackled by our free-market fantasies, will ever do.
7
If we can just get one more really, really big tax cut we can solve this problem!
19
guess we'll just have to wait until a bridge collapses and scores of people die before anyone cares, and then it will be for a short time. Drive carefully folks
10
If GOP leadership (and Trump) have their way, all possible monies that should be used to rebuild our infrastructure will be turned into tax reductions for the highest earners, who will build bigger walls around their private communities and Mar-a-Lago so that the riffraff will never be seen or heard. Those walls will never be high enough to prevent the next revolution, and the riffraff already have enough guns to "storm the bastille" many times over. This will not end well.
8
The political spectrum of punditry has labeled Trump a populist. Stop calling him what he is NOT. No infrastructure spending on his watch, zip. It's a joke. He's got Goldman Sachs running his admin basically.
13
well, trump has a 40 billion dollar wall to build so who cares if our bridges are failing and our roads are almost impassable in some areas of the country. after all we *do* have priorities and the average health and welfare of ordinary working class Americans is at the bottom of the list. Welcome to trump America folks. I hope those of you who voted for him are happy with all the winning and making America great again!
Bill Maher showed an excellent shot of lying ryan applauding away at trump's infrastructure proposal and grinning like the idiotic sycophant that he is. When President Obama proposed massive infrastructure spending in a State of the union address ryan was right there ready to shoot it down. republican hypocrisy truly has no bottom!
Bill Maher showed an excellent shot of lying ryan applauding away at trump's infrastructure proposal and grinning like the idiotic sycophant that he is. When President Obama proposed massive infrastructure spending in a State of the union address ryan was right there ready to shoot it down. republican hypocrisy truly has no bottom!
13
The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets.
Washington, DC, the capital of the largest rich country in the world, has a miserable collection of rough, potted, disjointed streets. I went on a mass bike ride there and a mountain bike would be better than a road bike because the streets offer riders teeth jarring bumps to rival some third world roads.
One part of the problem is that the new offers the potential of adding, like shorter commute times or profits for those who build along highways. Maintaining the old is not nearly as attractive. Make do wins out over making infrastructure continuously useful.
If the construction trades are having problems hiring, they should put the word out. Over 3 million kids graduate high school every year and many who don't plan on college go in the military because there are recruiters out looking for them and the path into military service is clear, direct and not that difficult. Many construction skills can be learned in six mo. to a yr. It is no longer enough just to put a sign in a window if you need employees. Band together, recruit and help train those who want to work. Stop complaining.
Yes, we have to pay for the things we want. The gas tax is not the best because it is regressive, but crumbling roads and bridges harm everyone. Eventually, the rich lose out, too, because the economy which provides their wealth goes down. This is one of the dangers of having a nation focused on immediate gain and nothing else.
Washington, DC, the capital of the largest rich country in the world, has a miserable collection of rough, potted, disjointed streets. I went on a mass bike ride there and a mountain bike would be better than a road bike because the streets offer riders teeth jarring bumps to rival some third world roads.
One part of the problem is that the new offers the potential of adding, like shorter commute times or profits for those who build along highways. Maintaining the old is not nearly as attractive. Make do wins out over making infrastructure continuously useful.
If the construction trades are having problems hiring, they should put the word out. Over 3 million kids graduate high school every year and many who don't plan on college go in the military because there are recruiters out looking for them and the path into military service is clear, direct and not that difficult. Many construction skills can be learned in six mo. to a yr. It is no longer enough just to put a sign in a window if you need employees. Band together, recruit and help train those who want to work. Stop complaining.
Yes, we have to pay for the things we want. The gas tax is not the best because it is regressive, but crumbling roads and bridges harm everyone. Eventually, the rich lose out, too, because the economy which provides their wealth goes down. This is one of the dangers of having a nation focused on immediate gain and nothing else.
11
Infrastructure needs a new name. The Republicans care not one bit about it. Never have. Now, if the Kochs stood to make money from it things might be different. Or if supporting infrastructure repairs would get Republicans re-elected, we would be a hundred years ahead of where we are now. I wonder if George W. would be interested in being "Infrastructure Czar"? Or Dick Cheney, maybe? How about Rumsfeld?
4
Where is Bechtel now that we need it?
2
Infrastructure is deteriorating because politicians want to win votes by not charging users what it costs to maintain and upgrade infrastructure. NYC subway is falling apart because Democrats are loathe to charge fares which cover the costs of running the system and paying for upgrade. The De Blasio's of the world are always looking to tax the 1 % to tax for all the upgrades. Guess what, the 1 % learnt long ago to how dodge all the taxes.
4
@Rahul: The users of the services you're referencing cannot afford to bear the costs. Believe it or not, raising ticket prices by a couple of dollars per trip could have real impacts for people when the minimum wage is tied (apparently) to the price of a movie ticket. That's part of the reason many people must ride the subways in the first place... to save money (environmental issues and traffic jams aside, of course). In light of this, it is not unreasonably to say that perhaps we should look elsewhere if we are going to raise tax revenue. By the way, you can also talk about "cutting waste," but that usually just means taking away services and support from those in most need, which is a nonstarter.
We have to get out of this mindset of viewing taxes and public funds as some kind of a la carte menu. We pay for schools regardless of whether we have children because it is a public good. We pay for roads even if (like the president) we prefer our private helicopters because it is a public good. California and New York pay federal tax dollars that give aid to states in the heartland because it is a public good.
Public services like roads, bridges and trains are available to the general public and their upkeep is part of promoting the General Welfare, which is a perfectly legitimate governmental purpose. An ILLEGITIMATE purpose is protecting the specific welfare of 1% of the population at the expense of the rest. That's not government, it's a Ponzi scheme.
We have to get out of this mindset of viewing taxes and public funds as some kind of a la carte menu. We pay for schools regardless of whether we have children because it is a public good. We pay for roads even if (like the president) we prefer our private helicopters because it is a public good. California and New York pay federal tax dollars that give aid to states in the heartland because it is a public good.
Public services like roads, bridges and trains are available to the general public and their upkeep is part of promoting the General Welfare, which is a perfectly legitimate governmental purpose. An ILLEGITIMATE purpose is protecting the specific welfare of 1% of the population at the expense of the rest. That's not government, it's a Ponzi scheme.
2
Don't forget that the MTA lost a lot of its money in 2008 as they had invested it in bonds/derivatives linked to subprime mortgages. Tax payers can pay all they want, as long as the funds are poorly managed they'll never get the infrastructure they deserve.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-newyork-mta-insurers-idUSN284802952008...
and another one:
http://www.thenewyorkworld.com/2012/09/11/mta-vows-full-libor-recovery/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-newyork-mta-insurers-idUSN284802952008...
and another one:
http://www.thenewyorkworld.com/2012/09/11/mta-vows-full-libor-recovery/
2
Combine this with David Leonardt's chart of income inequality elsewhere in today's Times, we easily see where the money that SHOULD have gone, and should go, for infrastructure has actually gone. Need to ask ALL in Congress - "If we can see this, why can't you?"
7
I feel like it would save time if we would just stop quoting anything Trump has said about his intentions. It seems like it's pretty much white noise, divorced from any relationship with his actual future actions.
8
So all agree that infrastructure is a priority at every level of government, local, state and federal. The bridges, roads, and power plants are in sore need of repair and/or replacement. It has a negative effect on our economic growth. And most important, it’s a safety and national security issue. So what are we doing about it? The Administration and Congress are proposing to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15-20%. And a “Yuge” tax cut for all except most will be for the wealthy. And a 10% increase in military spending.
Isn’t this just the reverse of what we should be doing to garner more funding for infrastructure? I truly wonder about our Government. They seem to be tuned out at times or living in some small vacuum sealed bubble. They really do need to set our priorities. And do a little more critical thinking. But that may be asking a little too much of them. Oh well…….
Isn’t this just the reverse of what we should be doing to garner more funding for infrastructure? I truly wonder about our Government. They seem to be tuned out at times or living in some small vacuum sealed bubble. They really do need to set our priorities. And do a little more critical thinking. But that may be asking a little too much of them. Oh well…….
3
Compare this with the infrastructure investments being made by China, both in China and around the world. We're in a death-spiral as a country and China is rising. Like I'm fond of saying, I'm more afraid of Republicans than I am of ISIS.
15
Like the Democrats have a much better track record on this? Think not!
I visit Germany once or twice a year on business and for short vacations. Two weeks ago, I was in northern Bavaria on business. What I saw was simply amazing: new freeways being built, clean-well-lit streets, building cranes, top-notch transportation, beautiful parks, etc. This week, I'm visiting friends near Frankfurt: almost-perfect roads, new business and residential construction and town rejuvenation, clean cities, well-run transportation systems, new bridges (for both automobiles and people), solar panels, wind farms, etc. Germany is investing in the future and it's obvious. One feels part of the 21st Century here.
Face it folks; the U.S. was once a great power that invested in itself, in its institutions, infrastructures and its people. Today, it has become a shabby, worn-out memory of itself. It's a country where, in the midst of great wealth, the citizens (from the wealthy to the poor) seem incapable of looking past their own self-interests. The anti-government notion planted by Ronald Reagan in 1981 has grown into a noxious weed that is strangling America's future. You can't build a great country by spending nothing on its institutions and structures.
The Germans know that a continuous investment in infrastructure builds on itself. It's good for business, it's good for people, it's good for the country.
What's so difficult for Americans to understand about this?
Face it folks; the U.S. was once a great power that invested in itself, in its institutions, infrastructures and its people. Today, it has become a shabby, worn-out memory of itself. It's a country where, in the midst of great wealth, the citizens (from the wealthy to the poor) seem incapable of looking past their own self-interests. The anti-government notion planted by Ronald Reagan in 1981 has grown into a noxious weed that is strangling America's future. You can't build a great country by spending nothing on its institutions and structures.
The Germans know that a continuous investment in infrastructure builds on itself. It's good for business, it's good for people, it's good for the country.
What's so difficult for Americans to understand about this?
165
Yes, i remember the same experience 40 years ago when I visited Europe and saw new infrastructure everywhere , not just in Germany. You mention "new bridges" , "almost perfect roads "., we don't do that here anymore , we've stopped improving,
We've supported incompetent Natl. Gov. policy to cut transportation funding for decades. Now we face a "Moon Shot" size task to design and fund a rebuild for our 3rd world transportation standard.
We've supported incompetent Natl. Gov. policy to cut transportation funding for decades. Now we face a "Moon Shot" size task to design and fund a rebuild for our 3rd world transportation standard.
19
The difficulty is collective action. Social contract is confused with socialism. Collective effort with collectivism's surrender of individual liberty. Bureaucracy bad. Trump good. The rich promote this as a way of protecting their interest. Why else is government run by Republicans? It's not for public service but service to those who can afford to pay for the cost to get elected. The root of the problem is campaign finance. How does one overturn Citizens United when Trump is likely to put 2 more supreme court justices in office? American decline is Trump's legacy in as many ways as he promised the opposite. Money trumps fact, evidence by example from abroad, and forward thinking even in the most patriotic and All American manner.
17
We're just too tired, lazy, and distracted.
It's just easier to go with the flow, which is decidedly downhill, but who has the energy, desire, or will to go uphill? Make my life simple, we say. Easy.
We want great benefits and low taxes. We're just not smart enough to figure out and believe why that course of action won't work. And trying to explain it to people who don't want to hear it is a waste of time.
"It was the worst of times ... "
It's just easier to go with the flow, which is decidedly downhill, but who has the energy, desire, or will to go uphill? Make my life simple, we say. Easy.
We want great benefits and low taxes. We're just not smart enough to figure out and believe why that course of action won't work. And trying to explain it to people who don't want to hear it is a waste of time.
"It was the worst of times ... "
2
Washington and Oregon have recently adopted substantial increases to their state gasoline tax, and Oregon will seek federal permission to add tolls to existing Interstate highways. Most of that money is going toward relieving congestion on major traffic routes or building a few miles of additional freeway capacity. But there is only so much the individual states can accomplish, and replacing rural roads and bridges or updating 125 year old sewer and water pipes will require an incredible amount of money. The only place that much money can come from is a major reduction in military spending, but when faced with a choice between upgrading rural roads or sewer and water systems and adding an additional aircraft battle group to the Navy, most in Congress will continue to choose the battle group every time.
5
The infrastructure of our country needs to be maintained for 2 major reasons.
First is the reliability of things such as clean water, natural gas supply lines and electrical power distribution.
Secondly are the roads and bridges, Dwight Eisenhower saw the need big time when he was part of a convoy that was attempting to cross the United States before WWII found themselves stuck at times, if you can’t move large amounts of personnel or goods across the country then you can’t insure the safety or well being of the country, hence the Interstate Highway System under his administration.
Both the President and Congress need to get on board and ensure that this gets done.
First is the reliability of things such as clean water, natural gas supply lines and electrical power distribution.
Secondly are the roads and bridges, Dwight Eisenhower saw the need big time when he was part of a convoy that was attempting to cross the United States before WWII found themselves stuck at times, if you can’t move large amounts of personnel or goods across the country then you can’t insure the safety or well being of the country, hence the Interstate Highway System under his administration.
Both the President and Congress need to get on board and ensure that this gets done.
3
The only way to pay for infrastructure is to put the cost on the national credit card which is nearly maxed out. Infrastructure spending and tax cutting are incompatible objectives.
3
Binya,
Government must learn what every school learns, what every farm learns:
Build what can be maintained with a self sustaining budget.
In other words, do not build what you cannot maintain.
The USA has no budget controls.
And Trump has filed a number of times. Our president is a complete phony. He knows nothing about business and he lies.
The only elected leader we have that understands budgets is Gov. John Kasich.
Governors must budget. The Fed and congress have combined.
Together, these two have destroyed our ability to budget.
In due course, deflation will strike. All government funded activities will suffer.
Central banks are destined to fail when monetization replaces budgeting.
Ask the questions that matter. We might get the answers that help.
Government must learn what every school learns, what every farm learns:
Build what can be maintained with a self sustaining budget.
In other words, do not build what you cannot maintain.
The USA has no budget controls.
And Trump has filed a number of times. Our president is a complete phony. He knows nothing about business and he lies.
The only elected leader we have that understands budgets is Gov. John Kasich.
Governors must budget. The Fed and congress have combined.
Together, these two have destroyed our ability to budget.
In due course, deflation will strike. All government funded activities will suffer.
Central banks are destined to fail when monetization replaces budgeting.
Ask the questions that matter. We might get the answers that help.
1
This, in addition to expanding healthcare, is where I have been surprised by Donald Trump's lack of follow through based on his campaign promises.
I thought for sure he would push for better, more affordable healthcare options, at minimum a public option if not single payer, and push for major infrastructure investments funded by the federal government to put large numbers of his supporters to work.
Both initiatives would have required true bi-partisan support, but my guess is he could have done it if he'd hit them hard to begin with, and he really would have been viewed as a transformational leader.
But I guess he'd rather play golf and promote his hotels, rather than actually follow-through on his promises. Watch out Social Security.
I thought for sure he would push for better, more affordable healthcare options, at minimum a public option if not single payer, and push for major infrastructure investments funded by the federal government to put large numbers of his supporters to work.
Both initiatives would have required true bi-partisan support, but my guess is he could have done it if he'd hit them hard to begin with, and he really would have been viewed as a transformational leader.
But I guess he'd rather play golf and promote his hotels, rather than actually follow-through on his promises. Watch out Social Security.
4
"Another challenge is that workers are getting harder to find. Jobs in highway construction in July were 2.6 percent below the pre-recession level."
This seems to undercut Trump's new immigration policy which is premised on the dubious idea that low wage immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens.
This seems to undercut Trump's new immigration policy which is premised on the dubious idea that low wage immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens.
1
I suppose our interstate highway system will have to crumble and deteriorate so badly that the Feds won't fund these necessary repairs until our highways, streets and bridges look more like those in Afghanistan. Maybe, that's the answer? We should network on the internet and form a national committee and then sign a petition demanding that the feds declare war against the American people. Oh, I forgot, we stopped declaring war in the Second World War. Sorry about that.
2
This article highlights two important things.
1. the necessity of reinvesting in our public infrastructure. This is one topic that actually has some level of bi-partisan support, and that rarity alone needs to be acted on. As our infrastructure ages, more and more tragedies like the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minnesota in 2007 are going to occur. Plus more investment means more jobs, which brings me to
2. We need widespread job retraining programs in this country. Too many people don't have any relevant skills for the twenty-first century economy and those people deserve a livelihood as much as anyone else. There are jobs to be had in infrastructure projects, but if the GOP really wants an "America First" program (and not just the racial fear-mongering and xenophobic rhetoric that they've been operating on so far), they need to invest in actually helping Americans. (Dems, too, should be looking for every way they can to push economic justice in this country while maintaining the cultural values that they have stood for to the benefit of so many that they now seem on the precipice of giving up. That move would gut any remaining soul of the party.)
1. the necessity of reinvesting in our public infrastructure. This is one topic that actually has some level of bi-partisan support, and that rarity alone needs to be acted on. As our infrastructure ages, more and more tragedies like the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minnesota in 2007 are going to occur. Plus more investment means more jobs, which brings me to
2. We need widespread job retraining programs in this country. Too many people don't have any relevant skills for the twenty-first century economy and those people deserve a livelihood as much as anyone else. There are jobs to be had in infrastructure projects, but if the GOP really wants an "America First" program (and not just the racial fear-mongering and xenophobic rhetoric that they've been operating on so far), they need to invest in actually helping Americans. (Dems, too, should be looking for every way they can to push economic justice in this country while maintaining the cultural values that they have stood for to the benefit of so many that they now seem on the precipice of giving up. That move would gut any remaining soul of the party.)
4
America looks derelict compared to Germany.
US infrastructure spending is now down to a record low 1.4 percent of the nation’s economic output.
Is that what "America First" looks like ?
This nation already resembles a third world country in most regions.
But no wonder that this happens to a country where cutting taxes is seen as virtuous and a vote winner.
Somehow Americans are allowing what tax they do pay to go to equipping and deploying the largest military the world has ever seen instead of looking after the basics of a first world nation.
Just a thought - perhaps if America didn't spend such an insanely high (and ever increasing) amount and percentage of its budget on the military it would be able to fix its infrastructure (and healthcare, welfare etc).
Trump is a topical but solvable and finite problem, but there is an underlying chronic disease in US politics: a totally corrupt and defunct electoral system which runs on money representing corporations and billionnaires, not democracy representing We, The People.
Neither Republicans nor Democrats are working for The People anymore.
On the bright side, they might have some nice roads in Afghanistan and Iraq now.
US infrastructure spending is now down to a record low 1.4 percent of the nation’s economic output.
Is that what "America First" looks like ?
This nation already resembles a third world country in most regions.
But no wonder that this happens to a country where cutting taxes is seen as virtuous and a vote winner.
Somehow Americans are allowing what tax they do pay to go to equipping and deploying the largest military the world has ever seen instead of looking after the basics of a first world nation.
Just a thought - perhaps if America didn't spend such an insanely high (and ever increasing) amount and percentage of its budget on the military it would be able to fix its infrastructure (and healthcare, welfare etc).
Trump is a topical but solvable and finite problem, but there is an underlying chronic disease in US politics: a totally corrupt and defunct electoral system which runs on money representing corporations and billionnaires, not democracy representing We, The People.
Neither Republicans nor Democrats are working for The People anymore.
On the bright side, they might have some nice roads in Afghanistan and Iraq now.
13
Wow, last fall just before Election Day they paved my street and 2 other very small streets. They even painted stripes on both sides which we had never had before. I live in a fairly new part of my development, which is mostly older people and very little traffic. The street was in very good shape before and now the new paving is already starting to crumble. It's that coarse type that someone said was suppose to be better in winter. Ha
1
People need to make a decision on the life that we want to live. The present choice is based on money and it is the force that directs everything good and bad. What drives money? The making, selling and buying of things. What drives the making, selling and buying of things? People buying things. What drives people to buy things? Two responses...need... and want. What determines need? If you don't have it you die, whether immediate or protracted. What determines want? Very sophisticated, psychologically driven manipulation of the people with money by those who want the money. What makes people susceptible to the manipulation of the very sophisticated , psychologically driven manipulation? Our physical and psychological make-up. The human body is susceptible to certain types of communications that render the body and mind malleable. The human mind, because of our history, leaves us malleable to certain types of communications. What drives people to use very sophisticated, psychologically driven methods to manipulate people into buying things? Money, which in and of itself is only paper or metal. So, what is there about money? What does money do or become to be so influential? It is the means by which we meet our needs and acquire our wants. Is it possible to have a system of living where we can meet our needs AND become aware of what wants WE actually have vs the wants that we are MANIPULATED into wanting? Control the money, control the people.
1
Trump could have been a hero, announcing a huge infrastructure program on day one. He could be parading around sites today taking credit for the program, taking credit truthfully for once. If he had paid for it with taxes on the rich, he'd be a shoo in for 2020.
But that's not Trump. He and his people are less interested in actual building than in private public partnerships, so that finance can get a percentage of the infrastructure spending and investment opportunities. That's complicated, even for someone with low interest in the public purse, so nothing happened yet and for the most part, will never happen until Trump is out and we have a working president.
But that's not Trump. He and his people are less interested in actual building than in private public partnerships, so that finance can get a percentage of the infrastructure spending and investment opportunities. That's complicated, even for someone with low interest in the public purse, so nothing happened yet and for the most part, will never happen until Trump is out and we have a working president.
3
You do realize that a president can announce all he wants to but it's Congress that must appropriate the funds and pass a bill to fund it?? A "phone and a pen" doesn't really produce much in real terms, at least not for infrastructure.
Of course it's unacceptable for Trump to not be following through on his promises of a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan.
But what is absolutely ridiculous is that these problems have only gotten worse - and more dangerous - thanks to the GOP's petulant opposition to former President Obama. While much of the rest of the developed world was moving forward with high-tech solutions to these issues, the US has been stuck in place for years. GOP obstructionism has helped make our country's infrastructure problem a national embarrassment, and it's now becoming a national emergency.
But what is absolutely ridiculous is that these problems have only gotten worse - and more dangerous - thanks to the GOP's petulant opposition to former President Obama. While much of the rest of the developed world was moving forward with high-tech solutions to these issues, the US has been stuck in place for years. GOP obstructionism has helped make our country's infrastructure problem a national embarrassment, and it's now becoming a national emergency.
60
Yes, of course, it's all just the fault of one party. I guess that's why mainly Democratic states like NY are in such great infrastructure shape, right? Look, both parties are guilty of neglect on this issue - and for decades not just under Obama.
Repubs cut off our national nose to spite our national face. Appropriate results followed. Watch for potholes. And pray the bridge you're on doesn't collapse.
3
A drive from NYC to SF nine years ago reminded me of the terrible condition of much of the inter-State highway system; there were eroded sides crumbling into ditches; there were potholes to break your axle. Whenever possible, we detoured off the inter-State and drove on State side roads; at that time those roads were in much better repair than the inter-State for several miles at a time. This difference was also apparent in parts of California; when you crossed into Oregon or Washington State, the public roads were better. If you lived in NE as I did for 33 years, you marveled at the smooth roads in Mass, as compared with the potholed mess in CT. This had something to do with CT's corrupt legislature at that time. We need to either go with a national Federal highway program, all States included; or, we need to fund strict inspection of State roads with incentives to repair, and strict supervision of mandated repairs. England's M1-6 highways were death defying in the '80's; two lanes shared with large container rigs. CT allowed giant two-container rigs on State highways, e.g. I95, which I traveled daily for years. You have never known fear until you leave work late and find yourself sharing a roadway with a huge rig barreling down on you, making up for lost time. If you had a true death wish, you could drive from Stamford to Fairfield on the Hutchison, built in the '50's with no overhead lights, few signs and deer leaping out of roadside tree lines.
So much money is now transferred to largely-nonproductive activities in our society that there is little left over for important things like infrastructure.
17
How much money is spent on things like lobbyists and campaigns and consultants?
2
Taxes are the cost of civilization, something the GOP refuses to pay for.
No-New-Tax-Nincompoopery is the official nihilistic Republican Party platform.
The long-term collapse of America's infrastructure correlates directly with Republican Tax-Cut Dementia first championed by Ronald Reagan, from which America has never recovered.
Mindless right-wing tax-cuts are a form of low-grade sedition and treason, destroying most of the nation so a few people like our Scofflaw-In-Chief Donald Trump can evade income taxes for a living.
Making America A 3rd-World Country With 0.1% Tax Cuts: GOP 1980 - 2017
No-New-Tax-Nincompoopery is the official nihilistic Republican Party platform.
The long-term collapse of America's infrastructure correlates directly with Republican Tax-Cut Dementia first championed by Ronald Reagan, from which America has never recovered.
Mindless right-wing tax-cuts are a form of low-grade sedition and treason, destroying most of the nation so a few people like our Scofflaw-In-Chief Donald Trump can evade income taxes for a living.
Making America A 3rd-World Country With 0.1% Tax Cuts: GOP 1980 - 2017
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How does Grover Norquist get away with his traitorous pledge??
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Well, whatd'ya expect. Giving mind-numbing tax breaks to billionaire business tycoons to "invest" in states' jobs is only part of the problem. Continuing to engage and misspend to the tune of 2 trillion dollars a useless and apparently no-end-in-sight sixteen year war in Afghanistan keeps those domestic 'infrastructure' dollars terminally locked up. Then, when things couldn't be any worse, we hear that good ole Blackwater buddy, sister to the divine Ms. Betsy Devos, Eric D. Prince is making the rounds on the news talk shows, talking up his shady mercenary security force corporation "Frontier Global" to anyone who he thinks will listen.
Infrastructure funding?? Yep, maybe in Kabul. But here in the American wasteland of dying bridges and roads? Hahahaha
Infrastructure funding?? Yep, maybe in Kabul. But here in the American wasteland of dying bridges and roads? Hahahaha
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That would be 'brother'. :->
4
International visitors to the U.S. remark on how seedy and rundown America has become, while their home countries have gleaming transportation systems and national health care. America doesn't work anymore, in more than one way.
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Yes agreed , but even more important is that increasing travel by Americans to not only "modern" Europe but countries in Asia etc., where they experience gleaming 21 century design systems , while we are using band-aids to fix our century old collapsed systems ( NYC subways etc)
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Having just returned from the Madrid area, I concur. The trains and subway were beautiful and comfortable. The streets clean and smooth. I spotted 3 homeless people. People were really enjoying life. Anyone can eat really well. Sure, their private cars are smaller - I rarely saw anything larger than a Honda Civic.
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Djt, let's have some perspective. Spain's unemployment rate is 17%. There are thusands of homeless people in Madrid. People see a city for a week or two as tourists or on business and of course they're in the good neighborhoods that are clean and free of the ills that plague all major cities.
Who doesn't rave about Rome but what average tourist knows that it's having a severe water crisis because it's water infrastructure is so bad that the system loses 40% of it's water due to leaks?
Tourists rave about the Budapest subway system because they all take the spanking new #4 line and the refurbished #1 line. But take the #3 line out of the city center and it's as grimy and creaky as anywhere else with Soviet era cars and stations that haven't been painted in decades..
The point is, it's possible to loathe Trump for all the reasons we do and to decry the lack of infrastructure spending in the USA without engaging in the same exaggerations tbat he does.
Who doesn't rave about Rome but what average tourist knows that it's having a severe water crisis because it's water infrastructure is so bad that the system loses 40% of it's water due to leaks?
Tourists rave about the Budapest subway system because they all take the spanking new #4 line and the refurbished #1 line. But take the #3 line out of the city center and it's as grimy and creaky as anywhere else with Soviet era cars and stations that haven't been painted in decades..
The point is, it's possible to loathe Trump for all the reasons we do and to decry the lack of infrastructure spending in the USA without engaging in the same exaggerations tbat he does.
The Trump administration’s infrastructure plan relies heavily on private investors, who have no interest in the vast majority of projects -- which are urgently needed to address decay and prioritize safety. The investors are waiting for the green light to pursue profit-focused privatization of prime roadways that are already in good condition, where the toll potential exceeds the expected maintenance costs.
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This was one of the big concerns regarding Medicaid expansion. Medical costs are going to stifle most everything else.
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Robert
Medicaid expansion, done properly (as it is in every civilized country on the globe but ours) will save money. Lots of money.
If you're looking for a black hole filled with cash, look at corporate welfare and tax cuts for the very rich. Look at the Republicans.
Mr. Trump is just waiting for another bridge to launch itself into the Mississippi; hen he'll hand the deed over to Halliburton, give them a giant tax break, and declare victory.
Medicaid expansion, done properly (as it is in every civilized country on the globe but ours) will save money. Lots of money.
If you're looking for a black hole filled with cash, look at corporate welfare and tax cuts for the very rich. Look at the Republicans.
Mr. Trump is just waiting for another bridge to launch itself into the Mississippi; hen he'll hand the deed over to Halliburton, give them a giant tax break, and declare victory.
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Yeah right. It wasn't you & your right-wing buddies shouting down tax increases and, in fact, calling for more tax cuts! We need to restore the gas tax and link it to inflation and we need to raise income taxes on high earners. Oh, and remove the cap on Social Security taxes.
We have a revenue problem and it was caused by the Republicans. They are directly responsible for our lousy roads etc
We have a revenue problem and it was caused by the Republicans. They are directly responsible for our lousy roads etc
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Whatever happened to Trump's America First?! More like Trump Family First.
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"Another challenge is that workers are getting harder to find..."
See, New York Times, this why I can't believe a word you say.
My President tells me over and over again, with varying degrees of hate, spite, and vitriol, that America is swarming with citizens desperate for any job, let alone a massively well-paying highway construction job, but can't find any because because of those lazy, greedy, illegal, um, lazy Mexicans.
No wonder you're failing.
See, New York Times, this why I can't believe a word you say.
My President tells me over and over again, with varying degrees of hate, spite, and vitriol, that America is swarming with citizens desperate for any job, let alone a massively well-paying highway construction job, but can't find any because because of those lazy, greedy, illegal, um, lazy Mexicans.
No wonder you're failing.
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Remember all those promises of lower taxes? Surprise! This is how those lower taxes are "paid" for.
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What this article leaves out is the exploding pension and retiree health care costs that take larger and larger portions of state and city budgets! This also applies to school districts! There is only so much money. If it is allocated to retired state and city workers it cannot be spent on the needed infrastructure repairs.
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Yes. As you cut out spending on infrastructure, other things being equal, pensions and health care will tend to be a larger and larger portion of state budgets. That's how math works.
As an empire crumbles, so does the homeland. Empires are expensive. That's the price of world domination.
Don't like it? Want a true change? Don't follow the corporate Dems, whatever their current slogan, but back genuine progressives.
Otherwise, crumble.
Don't like it? Want a true change? Don't follow the corporate Dems, whatever their current slogan, but back genuine progressives.
Otherwise, crumble.
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When you demonize the whole idea of taxation, and accordingly cut it to ridiculously bare-bones levels, hand out breaks and other abatements like candy, and threaten the seat of any legislator who dares even to suggest a tax increase, this is what happens.
Things age. Things collapse. Not all taxation is bad or wasteful. Taxes are what we pay to live in an orderly society.
Things age. Things collapse. Not all taxation is bad or wasteful. Taxes are what we pay to live in an orderly society.
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but you see - people like Trump don't pay taxes - they are privelaged, gaming the system and forcing others to carry their water - as they laugh on their way to the Cayman Islands...
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We are taxed a plenty! The problem is that unlike any other country in the world we spend most of our money in the military.
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Well, if those officials are so concerned, perhaps they should man-up and do something about it.
Of course, they will do nothing because doing something will require asking the people to actually pay for the work and that would likely involve raising revenue to cover it.
Of course, they will do nothing because doing something will require asking the people to actually pay for the work and that would likely involve raising revenue to cover it.
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Barack Obama repeatedly requested funding for infrastructure throughout his presidency but was constantly shut down and thwarted by Ryan and McConnell. Of course, it was McConnell who infamously bellowed that he would do everything in his power to assure Obama would be a one-term president, the health, safety and welfare of the American public be damned. And now we have the "Twitnit-in-Chief", the pathological liar, who spends his "working" vacation time going after Sen. Blumenthal, who at least was in the reserves during Vietnam, rather than hiding behind his mother's skirts with his repeated deferrals due to his bunions or bone spurs, whatever. We can thank the "deplorables" for Trump.
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You mean he was turned down when Congress was in the Democratic majority and run by Pelosi and Reid? How did that happen?
No he wasn't turned down because at that time he was dealing with the financial crisis brought on by none other than the GOP--again! By the time he tried to deal with infrastructure, he had lost control of the Senate and Congress due to the ACA. The Greed over People party, have never forgiven Obama for trying to do the right thing. Heaven forbid a "black man" step on their toes. Let's face it, Trumpster's are brain washed--they drank the koolaid and now are forever cursed.
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Infrastructure costs real money. Where will it come from? I know! Lower taxes! That's the ticket!
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Hey, whatever happened to that trillion dollar Obama stimulus that was supposed to revitalize our infrastructure?
That's right, it was a boondoggle giveaway to Democrat special interests that achieved nothing but put us further into debt.
But don't worry, Americans have the attention span of a fruit fly, so just blame a Republican.
Pathetic.
That's right, it was a boondoggle giveaway to Democrat special interests that achieved nothing but put us further into debt.
But don't worry, Americans have the attention span of a fruit fly, so just blame a Republican.
Pathetic.
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well, trump has a 40 billion dollar wall to build so who cares if our bridges are failing and our roads are almost impassable in some areas of the country. after all we *do* have priorities and the average health and welfare of ordinary working class Americans is at the bottom of the list. Welcome to trump America folks. I hope those of you who voted for him are happy with all the winning and making America great again!
Bill Maher showed an excellent shot of lying ryan applauding away at trump's infrastructure proposal and grinning like the idiotic sycophant that he is. When President Obama proposed massive infrastructure spending in a State of the union address ryan was right there ready to shoot it down. republican hypocrisy truly has no bottom!
Bill Maher showed an excellent shot of lying ryan applauding away at trump's infrastructure proposal and grinning like the idiotic sycophant that he is. When President Obama proposed massive infrastructure spending in a State of the union address ryan was right there ready to shoot it down. republican hypocrisy truly has no bottom!
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50% of the $875 billion 2009 stimulus went into tax breaks and unemployment insurance. Only $90 billion of it went into infrastructure programs. The stimulus worked as designed.
The problem is there should have been a separate $500 billion stimulus exclusively for infrastructure repair. But Republicans at the time were not interested in spending stimulus dollars on infrastructure, and the Democrats wanted to save their political capital for the ACA fight. So the can got kicked. Again. It will be kicked here, too.
The problem is there should have been a separate $500 billion stimulus exclusively for infrastructure repair. But Republicans at the time were not interested in spending stimulus dollars on infrastructure, and the Democrats wanted to save their political capital for the ACA fight. So the can got kicked. Again. It will be kicked here, too.
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I assume that was a rhetorical question, since you doubtless already know that a one trillion dollar stimulus package wasn't nearly enough to revitalize our entire national infrastructure, especially given the need for Obama to compromise with Republicans and assign one-third of it to tax cuts.
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