Reaching 1900 blurbs feels pretty significant to yours truly. Waxing poetic about it is not in the cards but waxing poetic about infrastructure or the lack thereof is because the US is falling apart while the Military/Industrial/Congressional Complex continues to run amuck on ill advised military adventures driven by ideology and money and not pragmatic reality, issues BRT has discussed in depth as long as this "wonderful" blog has existed. What's even more amazing is how politicos view this lack of infrastructure funding as a mysterious process even though the raison d'ete is as obvious as the nose on one's face. The pix above is China's rather futuristic version of the subway, something rather unlike the ones seen in this country.
It’s the problem that no one has been able to solve.
For years, there has been widespread agreement in Washington that the nation is facing an infrastructure crisis, with dangerously congested roads and deficient bridges threatening public safety and trade.
Time and time again, lawmakers in both parties have expressed agreement that something should be done.
Yet congressional attempts to revitalize the country’s transportation infrastructure — which now ranks 11th in the world after slipping from no. 1, according to the World Economic Forum — have gone nowhere.
Members of Congress, local legislators, former Cabinet members and experts alike say the impasse largely boils down to one thing.
“It’s politics,” said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Funding shortfalls ahead
By 2025, the country’s total infrastructure investment needs will total $3.3 trillion, but planned investments are only $1.8 trillion, leaving a $1.4 trillion gap.
That shortfall is projected to grow to $5.1 trillion by 2040 if investment rates continue on the current trajectory, according to the latest report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Homer actually has the answer. :)
For the first time ever, after some 26 years on the air, The Simpsons hit a new milestone for an animated series by going live on Sunday night. For three minutes, Homer Simpson—voiced by Dan Castellaneta—fielded phone calls from fans during both the East and West Coast broadcasts and offered his opinion on the U.S. presidential candidates. Well, kind of.
Ending the episode, titled “Simprovised,” Homer’s live segment on the West Coast feed saw him wade into the political storm surrounding Donald Trump’s presidential run (something, by the way, that was predicted by The Simpsons in 2000). Asked by a caller if he would move from Springfield to Canada if Trump is elected, Homer responded: “Well, there are a lot of people who want me to move out of Springfield already. But I don’t think Canada will welcome me.”
He then added: “But you know what? That’s why I’m for Bernie Sanders. I love his chicken. But out of respect we should refer to him as The Colonel.”
Gotta love it. :)
Addendum: Check out Five Infrastructure Emergencies from The Hill. The mystery remains intact as to why there's not enough money to fix things but reality, like rust never sleeps in spite of the BS given to us by our so-called leaders.
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