Joe Conason: A Generation of Termites

[marmar]

from truthdig:



A Generation of Termites
Posted on Oct 13, 2010

By Joe Conason


When American politicians talk about the legacy we are leaving to the next generation, their usual theme is financial deficits, as if there were no other kind. Figured on a per capita basis, the real and imputed debt that today’s children will assume someday as taxpayers can seem daunting. But what our political leaders rarely even attempt to calculate is the other debt that we are leaving to our heirs—a decayed and inadequate infrastructure that doesn’t deserve to be compared with what earlier generations bequeathed to us.

The best recent estimates by civil engineers and government experts indicate that we would have to spend well over $2 trillion during the next five years on roads, bridges, airports, railways, transit, sewers, waterways, ports, dams, parks and schools simply to maintain them in decent condition. Such estimates do not include the kind of modernizing improvements that the United States requires to remain competitive with other nations or to protect the global environment from disaster. But the political momentum appears to favor politicians who have no will to preserve—let alone better—the national inheritance that we have allowed to fall into sorry disrepair.

The destructive dynamic was illustrated again in recent days, when President Obama offered a very modest $50 billion program that would begin to address America’s infrastructure needs, and not incidentally create jobs in a deflated economy. Although he sought bipartisan agreement, flanked by former transportation officials from Republican administrations, his partisan opponents instantly dismissed his proposals as political. The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell—who has directed millions of federal dollars to his home state for boondoggles named after him—now sees no benefit in federal spending on basic transportation and environmental projects.

Perhaps it is understandable, if still deplorable, that Republicans like McConnell prefer to stop any Democratic or bipartisan initiative that might give hope to voters frustrated by slow growth and high unemployment. More troubling by far is the absence of any plausible suggestion from the Republicans as to how they would address the need to rebuild and restore a country that is literally falling apart. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_generation_of_termites_20101013/

[TacticalPeek]

1. Those who do not think of the future are unworthy of their ancestors.

Winston Churchill

[starroute]

2. People are going to have to start dying

It's sad but true that fatalities are often what it takes to draw attention to a problem. A few bridge collapses, dam breaks, and water main ruptures will do a lot to get people to notice.

[Zoeisright]

3. Great article. Repukes = termites. Perfect bumper sticker.