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can you maintain infrasturture when you don’t even have enough money for unemployment funding or health care spending or police and fire services?

Oct.21, 2008 in Market Outlook

In some of our older cities, there are still parts of the water systems that have lead pipes. We have $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion to spend just to bring our infrastructure up to par. I read one estimate that if we were to get all bridges up to modern requirements, that alone would cost $2 trillion.

quote:
the American Society of Engineers have issued several reports, and what they said is that America’s infrastructure is crumbling. For example, aviation they gave a D+ in terms of gridlock on America’s runways. It’s eased from crisis levels early in the decade due to a reduced demand and recent modest funding increases. However, air travel and traffic have reportedly surpassed pre-September 11 levels. Airports are facing challenges of accommodating increasing numbers of regional jets, and new super jumbo jets. Bridges are given a C rating. Dams are given a D rating. Since 1998 the number of unsafe dams has risen by 33% to more than 3500. Drinking water is getting worse. They give drinking a D-. America faces a shortfall of 11 billion annually to replace aging facilities, and comply with safe drinking water regulations.

Energy – our power grid has fallen to a D. They’re talking about the transmission system is in urgent need of modification; growth in electricity demand and investment and new power plants has not been matched by investment in new transmission facilities.

Hazardous waste a D. Navigable water ways – and you’re talking about barge and the nation’s river systems – has fallen to D-. You know, we’re right next to F, John.

Public parks are C-.

Our rail system in this country – they are listed here for the first time since World War II – limited rail capacity has created significant choke points and delays. This problem will increase as freight rail tonnage is expected to increase at least 50% by the year 2020. So rail is down to C-.

Roads are D; schools are D. Security an I. Solid waste systems, or recycling systems, a C. And transit systems are D+; and waste water D-.

And the trend, John, has been one of continuing deterioration.
http://www.financialsense.com/fsn/BP/2007/0310.html
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Now, understand that that article is from March 10, 2007, a year and 1/2 ago and all that has happened is that things have gotten a lot worse. Now you have over 30 states in trouble and cities facing huge budget shortfalls. How can you maintain infrasturture when you don’t even have enough money for unemployment funding or health care spending or police and fire services?

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