posted on September 4, 2003 10:08:47 AM new
Now let's see if i got the math correct here, we have a shi*ty infrastruture within the US, going cost a lot of money to fix, but wait, there is no money to fix, but at the same time congress has money like billions to put into a infrastruture into another country but not here, and here we have Bush and gang asking for another 65 billion for the war, what's wrong with this picture,
Report Blasts American Infrastructure
U.S. Transportation, Water and Energy Systems Get Grade of D-Plus in Civil Engineers' Report
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Sept. 4 —
America's infrastructure is full of cracks, leaks and holes and is getting worse, according to an analysis by civil engineers that gives the nation's transportation, water and energy systems an overall grade of D-plus.
A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers released Thursday said the condition of 12 categories of infrastructure hasn't improved in the past two years. The report blamed a weak economy, limited federal programs, population growth and the threat of terrorism, which diverted money to security.
"Americans' concerns about security threats are real, but so are the threats posed by crumbling infrastructure," Thomas Jackson, ASCE president, said in a statement. "It doesn't matter if the dam fails because cracks have never been repaired or if it fails at the hands of a terrorist. The towns below the dam will still be devastated."
Schools received the worst grade D-minus from the engineers, who said three out of four school buildings are inadequate. They estimate it will cost more than $127 billion to build new classrooms and modernize outdated schools.
Energy transmission earned a D-plus, but the engineers said the trend is getting worse. Investment in transmission fell by $115 million annually, to $2 billion a year in 2000 from $5 billion in 1975. Actual capacity increased by only 7,000 megawatts a year, 30 percent less than needed to keep up with power demand.
The report gave roads a D-plus. "The nation is failing to even maintain the substandard conditions we currently have," the report said, adding that the average rush hour grew by more than 18 minutes between 1997 and 2000.
The engineers' report gave bridges a C, noting that 27.5 percent of U.S. bridges were structurally deficient or obsolete in 2000.
Transportation systems earned a C-minus, despite increased spending over the past six years. "Efforts to maintain the systems are outpaced by growth in ridership," the report said.
Dwayne Kalynchuk, president of the American Public Works Association, said investing in the nation's infrastructure needs to be more of a priority.
"We're all certainly aware of issues, of emergencies, and investing in emergencies immediately," Kalynchuk said. "But I think here we have an emergency that is going to catch up to us in the next few years if we don't deal with it today."
The Bush administration in May proposed spending $247 billion on roads, bridges and mass transit, 13 percent more than the previous six-year plan.
Rep. Don Young, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has proposed a $375 billion spending plan, to be paid for by indexing the gasoline tax to inflation. Young, R-Alaska, said in a statement that the report reinforced his serious concerns about the state of the U.S. infrastructure.
"If we don't provide adequate investment in transportation and water infrastructure, we will dearly regret it in the long run," Young said.
The report's other grades included:
D for aviation. "Little is being done to capitalize on the low growth period after 9/11 to address the nation's aviation infrastructure needs."
D for drinking water and wastewater. The nation's 54,000 drinking water systems are aging rapidly and some sewer systems are 100 years old, while federal funding remains flat.
D for dams, with the number of unsafe dams rising to nearly 2,600 and 21 dam failures in the past two years.
posted on September 4, 2003 02:30:46 PM new
very interesting, I see that most of the problems started anywhere from 1975 on... President Bush took office in 2001...
Nothing new... but seems like President Bush will now have to bail this out also...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
posted on September 5, 2003 01:03:56 AM new
twelvepole this only proves Daddy Bush didn't do his job again You would think he would have been smart enough to catch this and fix it. wouldn't you.
posted on September 5, 2003 07:13:02 AM new
As you say - things have been going to hell for decades and it isn't one president or one party.
Yet most of you are cheerleaders for one party or one president and blame the other for all the troubles. Even things like the economy that goes in cycles that no man can control anymore than the weather.
Perhaps this is the biggest function of the two party system? To blind people to the fact there isn't a bit of difference between them and neither one has any real control or cares a bit about the average person.
Wake up and see the reality that the present form of government does not work to control a global economy or create stability by serving mostly business interests.
It has enough power that it will not be replaced until there is a collapse of order. Nothing you can do about that but it is time to start thinking about what will replace it....
posted on September 5, 2003 07:59:26 AM new
" Even things like the economy that goes in cycles that no man can control anymore than the weather."
You can't attribute this miserable economy to just another "cycle". With the economy spiraling out of control and a deficit that is expected to reach a half a trillion dollars, along with over 6 million unemployed, I think that it's appropriate to question our president...especially when his solution was to give money to the wealthy.
posted on September 5, 2003 08:15:54 AM new
Update
On Thursday, the Labor Department released data showing unemployment claims had "unexpectedly" risen to 413,000 for the week. Today, Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing the economy had "unexpectedly" lost another 93,000 jobs.
posted on September 5, 2003 08:17:11 AM new
gravid - Yet most of you are cheerleaders for one party or one president and blame the other for all the troubles. Even things like the economy that goes in cycles that no man can control anymore than the weather.
I agree. My reason for becoming a 'cheerleader' for the republicans, while registered as an Independent, is I have not given up, like I feel you have.
You are not alone. Many in this country feel the same way you do and don't vote...don't pick a side that *most* agrees with the way they see the issues. But that helps absolutely **nothing** to improve. The more who chose to do nothing, the quicker this country will be led by outside factors. I just would hate to see that happen.....so I pick the side I most agree with and fight for it.
posted on September 5, 2003 08:24:30 AM new
Helen, helen, helen....here's a site that will prove to you just how many years the US has had an unemployment rate at 6% OR MORE. We got through it...the sky didn't fall in on us. It won't this time either.
posted on September 5, 2003 11:24:27 AM new
Linda, Believe me...you are in the minority if you really believe that the economy today is a minor problem. Are you buddies with Dave Lesar and the Halliburton crew?
posted on September 5, 2003 11:47:29 AM new
gee helen, I sure don't remember EVER saying minor. You wouldn't be putting words in my mouth now would you? lol
I just can see that in our past we have faced rough challenges, as we are now, and we come through them a stonger nation. I don't choose to take the fatalistic view that you appear to take nor choose to continue screaming 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling'. I say we are strong and can work through the challenges we now face.
