From the American Society of Civil Engineers
Grades ranged from a high of C+ for solid waste to a low of D- for drinking water, inland waterways, levees, roads, and wastewater. U.S. surface transportation and aviation systems declined over the past four years, with aviation and transit dropping from a D+ to D, and roads dropping from a D to a nearly failing D-.
Showing no significant improvement since the last report, the nation’s bridges, public parks and recreation, and rail remained at a grade of C, while dams, hazardous waste, and schools remained at a grade of D, and drinking water and wastewater remained at a grade of D-. Levees, the newest category, debuted on the 2009 Report Card at a barely passing grade of D-. Just one category—energy—improved since 2005, raised its grade from D to D+.
4 comments:
But I don't see any hole out of this. According to studies, we need to spend $2 trillion just to update all our current infrastructure. But the federal government has NEVER spent that much, no matter which party is in power.
One can only hope that the GOP intransigence is just for political gain and not a permanent point of view. The best option would be a liberal dem landslide in 2012, and the fast passing of massive infrastructure spending.
However the GOP does have at least some chance of winning in 2012, and if they do win and continue to pursue this policy of downsizing the government and neglecting our infrastructure we could be in for a long period of American decline.
anon, I think, sadly, it is a permanent point of view. Look at how Boehner and Cantor fail to pass conservative legislation in the House because it's not conservative ENOUGH for many of the reps. You have to give the tea party reps credit. They arent playing politics, they truly believe what they say.
Yeah that is the big concern. Heck even Boehner may face a tea party rebellion in his district, which while it may make me happy in many ways to se him fall into defeat, it would increase the power of the tea party in the GOP and likely make any hope of future infrastructure spending even less likely if they win next year.
This country can't wait another 4-8 years, the longer we wait the less likely that we'll be able to recover, since worker skills decay and it becomes harder to find work for the long term unemployed.
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