Saturday, February 20, 2010
Bob Herbert loves his country
Which is why he wants to rebuild and replace the ancient and deteriorating infrastructure that plagues so much of America. With so much of the renewal process deferred, delayed and denied since the advent of St. Ronnie of Reagan, he lets us see what a formidable task that will be.
Schools, highways, the electric grid, water systems, ports, dams, levees — the list can seem endless — have to be maintained, upgraded, rebuilt or replaced if the U.S. is to remain a first-class nation with a first-class economy over the next several decades. And some entirely new infrastructure systems will have to be developed.And we know the Republicans are quite happy to accept an inferior product because they are only interested in investing in their wealthy friends. Or as the old saying goes; Money begets money when you won't let it flow where it is needed.
But these systems have to be paid for, and right now there are not enough people at the higher echelons of government trying to figure out the best ways to raise the enormous amounts of money that will be required, and the most responsible ways of spending that money. And there are not enough leaders explaining to the public how heavy this lift will be, and why it is so necessary, and what sacrifices will be required to get the job properly done.
In an era of historically high budget deficits, the case has to be made that this is not wasteful spending but essential investments that will yield powerful returns. “If you’re not willing to invest,” said Governor Rendell, “you have to be willing to accept an inferior product. That’s the danger we’re facing.”
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