It’s August: warm weather, Congressional and state government recesses — the no-school summer season. Sure seems like a great time to chill out, kick back and let the issues ride until after Labor Day.
NO WAY, when it comes to infrastructure issues!
Our nation’s engineers came out with their comprehensive report on the status of all infrastructure issues in every state, and the cumulative national grade was a D+, up from a D four years ago. That was March, not even five months ago.
Should we now put those reports on the shelf, save those state reports now on our computers and when convenient, take another look? That’s what too many of us, including our elected and appointed officials have done. Four years later, from a D to a D+ isn’t exactly a record of academic achievement. And, too many of us citizens are absolutely not getting into any of this complicated stuff. Others will handle it. What evidence is there to ASSUME that?
If any one of our children came home with a report card averaging D+, there would many conversations — vigorous dialogue all summer — on how that is going to change.
America, start talking! Ask questions of every elected official who’s “home for the summer.” Read the state reports provided in ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure and let’s use the rest of the summer to instigate a robust national dialogue on how to fix our infrastructure.
Steve Anderson
Managing Editor
InfrastructureUSA.org
Tags: Citizen Engagement, Congressional Recess, Summer Vacation
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