http://abcnews.go.com/US/print?id=565288 U.S. Infrastructure Deteriorating, Report Finds Reuters Mar. 9, 2005 - U.S. roads, bridges, sewers and dams are crumbling and need a $1.6 trillion overhaul but prospects for improvement are grim, the American Society of Civil Engineers said in a report issued on Wednesday. The group's first report since 2001 looked at 15 categories of public infrastructure, assigning each a letter grade. Overall, the nation's infrastructure received a D, down from a D+ four years ago. "If we treated our own homes like we treat our infrastructure, we'd all live in shacks," said ASCE president William Henry. Donald Plusquellic, Democratic mayor of Akron, Ohio, and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, blamed a lack of political will over many years compounded by the policy of tax cuts pursued by President Bush. "I don't know of a single tax cut that's replaced a bridge. When that bridge fails killing people, nobody's going to care whether those people were Republicans or Democrats," he said. The society estimated the cost of bringing infrastructure to an acceptable level at $1.6 trillion over five years from government and the private sector. The report was compiled by 24 top engineers who analyzed published material and surveyed 2,000 engineers in the field. The report said that since 2001, the conditions of the country's roads, drinking water system, public transit, wastewater disposal, hazardous waste disposal, navigable waterways and energy system had worsened. The nation's drinking water system alone needed a public investment of $11 billion a year to replace facilities, comply with regulations and meet future needs. But federal funding reached less than 10 percent of this amount. As a result, aging wastewater systems were discharging billions of gallons of untreated sewage into surface waters each year, the report said. Poor roads cost U.S. motorists $54 billion a year in repairs and operating costs while Americans spent 3.5 billion hours a year stuck in traffic jams. The country's power transmission system also needed to be modernized, the report said. While demand continued to rise, transmission capacity failed to keep pace and actually fell by 2 percent in 2001. As of 2003, 27 percent of the nation's bridges were structurally deficient or obsolete, a slight improvement from 28.5 percent in 2000. But since 1998, the number of unsafe dams in the country rose by 33 percent to more than 3,500. Copyright 2005 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved.
Who cares about American infrastructure? The lack thereof can be largely compensated for by private gated communities, roads, schools, if you have the money. If you have the money and your car falls apart due to pot-holes, just buy another one with your tax refund. Electric grid fails, buy a gnerator you cheapskate. Libraries who needs them? Dont be ridicuous or a leach, just go buy the books you want to read. To the extent that it eventually destroys productivity those with enough money can buy foreign investments. Beside Americans get paid more than people in rural China so everything should be produced there. Replace the infrastructure here? Are you kidding? Kellogg, Bectel and the like have a higher profit margin on oversea projects so how can you expect them to do work here. Infrastructure plays in Iraq have a higher margin than in Texas. Dont need no infrastructure, you socialists, just give the wealthy back THEIR money. It is the only Christian thing to do.
you are such a freaking idiot.............. I really can't understand why you want to live in this country ?????
Glynch is just a socialist at heart. I am sure he gives away half of his money to charity, right Glynch? If not, why not? DD
He wants to live in a country where he can achieve the ability to pay for his own 100 ft driveway, kudos...
Back on topic, I think there is a highway bill working its way through Congress as we speak. The above article gives cover for Republicans to grow the deficit.
it really is sad. we're spending countless BILLIONS of dollars trying to develop iraq's infrastructure all the while our own infrastructure is falling apart. and i guarantee this administration will sit by idly and not do a damn thing about. these are the things that everyone takes for granted and few people probably pay any real attention to, all because it isn't some interesting story about terrorism. but the government KNOWS whats going on, they just dont care since it isn't an issue that will win them any votes....... unhealthy drinking water? TAX CUTS! roads falling apart? TAX CUTS! massive power failures? TAX CUTS! i mean this is completely ridiculous. we're talking about a $1.6 TRILLION overhaul! how could our government let OUR infrastructure deteriorate that significantly? it just pisses me off that people would rather argue about abortion or gay marriages than discuss the overall well-being of our nation. these are the things our government should be taking care of, not neglecting. how many times have you heard ANY politican talking about renovating any of these things? **** like this is just unacceptable, IMO.
Wouldn't most of the problems not have to do with the federal government at all? Aren't most of the issues they talk about state, county, or city issues?
If the Administration says anything on the subject, it will be a complete black and white denial... our infrastructure is fine, Global Warming doesn't exist, we don't torture people- or send them to third world countries to be tortured, and so on...
Bush says he won't sign a highway budget more than 260 billion though Congress wants around 25 billion more. He wants tolls to be implemented instead. I also think they're going to use this for their ploy to cut Social Security and Medicare. I doubt Bush's historians want him to create a New Infrastructure goal, but it'll be a good starter for his successor. Instead of tax and spend, it'll be spend and spend (what debt?). If under the circumstance that our economy collapses under its debt, then the Republicans can really push that ownership society pipedream. Deregulate everything! Everyone for themselves.
Why do you have to bash Xtians and imply that Xtians are just Bush-voting flag wavers. Blacks, who vote monolithically for the Democrats, have higher church-going rates than whites. Latinos, who predominantly vote for Democrats, have much higher church-going rates than whites. There was an ordained Christian minister seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. btw - how much of the the infrastructure overhaul would fall under the jurisdiction of state or local govts? Also - I don't think deteriorating infrastructure is really a partisan issue. I haven't checked, but I'm pretty sure Carter-Reagan-Bush-Clinton-GW have all been neglectful.
langal, to be fair to glynch, I would think he was taking a shot at the Christian Fundamentalists, in other words, the extreme group(s) who make up a small % of U.S. Christians, but exert an influence far exceeding their numbers. As for the Xtians, are they related to a group similar to some American Indian religions? Those who indulge in peyote during some of their religious rites? I haven't heard of them, and am surprised by how active they seem to be, based on your post. Keep D&D Civil!!
unless shoring up the infrastructure can get the lobbyist and their clients paid. . . . . the FRIENDS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS paid it ain't happening Omen River
LOL. yup. the Xtians are the fastest growing socio-ethnic group in North America. Sorry glynch - i was a little trigger happy there=) And yer right. keep D&D civil.
