http://www.infrastructureusa.org/building-americas-future/ A website about Infrastructure Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:16:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://www.infrastructureusa.org/building-americas-future/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Lee Koenigsberg Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:57:56 +0000 http://www.infrastructureusa.org/?p=208#comment-48 I wonder why "taxes" have become such a dirty work in our culture. The issue of taxes should not be viewed as "how much do I have to pay," but, rather, "what are my tax dollars buying." When I think of infrastructure, the vivid image of deferred maintenance is the first thing that comes to mind. How can we intelligently allow our public facilities continue to deteriorate? An analogy is the recognition of a crack in the tile in a shower; sure, we can continue to enjoy our daily shower every day, but, meanwhile, a constant drip of water creeps through the tile, leading to a build-up of moisture on the wood panels supporting the tile wall. Eventually, this will lead to rot -- and, possibly, mold -- because the panels and studs do not have a chance to dry. At some point, the only remedy will be a major maintenance job to replace the studs and wall (and possibly, the floor beneath the bathroom). Wouldn't it make more sense to fix the leak before a major undertaking is required? This analogy can easily be related to the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis, and multiple other examples that may not be so blatantly dramatic. A recent article in The New York Times recounted how cities have seen a strong economic impact on their communities when light rail transportation systems have been introduced. Again, it's not what these essential projects cost, it's what they accomplsh. I wonder why “taxes” have become such a dirty work in our culture. The issue of taxes should not be viewed as “how much do I have to pay,” but, rather, “what are my tax dollars buying.”
When I think of infrastructure, the vivid image of deferred maintenance is the first thing that comes to mind. How can we intelligently allow our public facilities continue to deteriorate? An analogy is the recognition of a crack in the tile in a shower; sure, we can continue to enjoy our daily shower every day, but, meanwhile, a constant drip of water creeps through the tile, leading to a build-up of moisture on the wood panels supporting the tile wall. Eventually, this will lead to rot — and, possibly, mold — because the panels and studs do not have a chance to dry. At some point, the only remedy will be a major maintenance job to replace the studs and wall (and possibly, the floor beneath the bathroom). Wouldn’t it make more sense to fix the leak before a major undertaking is required?
This analogy can easily be related to the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis, and multiple other examples that may not be so blatantly dramatic.
A recent article in The New York Times recounted how cities have seen a strong economic impact on their communities when light rail transportation systems have been introduced.
Again, it’s not what these essential projects cost, it’s what they accomplsh.

]]> http://www.infrastructureusa.org/building-americas-future/comment-page-1/#comment-35 David D. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:02:05 +0000 http://www.infrastructureusa.org/?p=208#comment-35 This is not about fair tax policy. It's about wise spending policy. Although you can't protect infrastructure spending from the political process, it's essential to open the process up. Let projects go forward and demand accountability. Governors and mayors, for example, should take responsibility for choosing the best projects and following through so that they don't take forever or are mismanaged. Conduct real oversight and invite the media to scruitinize everything. Commit energy and political capital to get things done. This is not about fair tax policy. It’s about wise spending policy. Although you can’t protect infrastructure spending from the political process, it’s essential to open the process up. Let projects go forward and demand accountability. Governors and mayors, for example, should take responsibility for choosing the best projects and following through so that they don’t take forever or are mismanaged. Conduct real oversight and invite the media to scruitinize everything. Commit energy and political capital to get things done.

]]> http://www.infrastructureusa.org/building-americas-future/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Billy Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:54:16 +0000 http://www.infrastructureusa.org/?p=208#comment-33 I'm not going to pay one more red cent out of my paycheck to fix anything! I’m not going to pay one more red cent out of my paycheck to fix anything!

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