[AngelesCrestHighway]

Just like the politicians are ignoring the majority of Americans on amnesty, they are ignoring our crumbling highways and bridges. You can't just build a freeway anymore or even widen them because 20 environmental impact studies or some similar crap stops everything in its tracks.

[RightWhale]

our infrastructure is simply crumbling

Alaska, with next to no infrastructure to crumble, feels the pain.

[BushMeister]

The U.S. has had the world’s largest economy since 1860, according to figures I’ve seen.

[tcrlaf]

I’ll give this a great big, “DUH!!!!!”

China builds a 120 MPH frieght railway to it’s interior, while we tear up track for “Walking Paths”...

We spend BILLIONS to rebuild a single interchange, instead of spending less than the yearly interest payment to help start up a rail service on existing track that would relieve the traffic that requires the rebuild in the first place.

We build HUGE, monsterous sky palaces while small city after small city drops off the air service network.

Infrastructure isn’t nearly as politicly sexy as a Senior Center, or a pretty and new Forest Service Welcome Center that they can’t afford to staff.

Our priorities have been screwed up for a LONG time now...

[wideawake]

To eliminate its weaknesses, the United States would have to spend about $160 billion a year over five years, Roth added. That total of $800 billion is not so different from the $700 billion in estimated direct spending on the war in Iraq.

At least this is a serious assessment that has not been politicized in any way.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Not only is it roads and things as such, there are a lot of electrical utility companies & the government that are now realising the electrical grids in this country are in need of major upgrades, other countries around the world are hot markets for new electrical infrastructure.

[P-40]

"The American public is really aware of infrastructure,

I agree with him to an extent...but I think most people are really only aware of our infrastructure when it fails. That it requires maintenance is probably never given much thought.

[xDGx]

Highways and bridges don’t vote.

Assistance program recipients do.

Three guesses who gets the money.

[sheik yerbouty]

Our politicians would rather provide us with bread and circuses..

[Spirochete]

Is aging infrastructure slowing the U.S.?

No, but our aging drivers are.

[Uncle Miltie]

Who is John Galt?

[paddles]

Just rename all the highways, bridges, airports and phone companies after Robert Byrd and they'll get funding.

Problem solved. Next!

[Publius6961]

Is aging infrastructure slowing the U.S.?

Yes.
The "It's all about me" society and stategic social planning are fatally and permanently incompatible.

One hundred percent of the large projects that created the greatest culture in the world, would not be possible today.

Next question...

[stinkerpot65]

The press has been whining about “aging infrastructure” for 30 years. I was a reporter in the early 80’s and remember dozens of stories just like this one.

[BfloGuy]

Not altogether surprising that a group of engineers recommend infrastructure improvements. As my dad used to tell me, never ask a tire salesman if you need new tires.

[denydenydeny]

To me this all sounds suspiciously like the “crumbling schools” from every Democrat stump speech for the last 20 years. This kind of talk is invariably followed by demands for more spending, tax increases, etc.

[FlyVet]

The expense is going to be mind-boggling. A six-mile stretch of I-10 is being widened from four to eight lanes at Tucson. Three years, $220 Million. And that’s before delays and cost overruns.