One of Obama's main thrusts has been to rebuild the aging U.S. infrastructure--roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, mass transit systems. Rebuilding will not only be a value in itself, but will provide many jobs and stimulate the economy.
Of course, the Republicans have been fighting this every step of the way. Their idea is to ameliorate the economic recession by spending less--while most economists, based on the theories of John Maynard Keynes--argue that in a recession governments should spend more--to stimulate the economy.
My reference here is to recent editorials in the NYTimes, as well as the NYTimes columns of Paul Krugman. They point out that the current European austerity policy is throwing Europe back into recession.
And given the devastation of Sandy, we now see even a more urgent need. It's not just an aging infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt, but, where Sandy hit, a devastated infrastructure.
But there is a further point on infrastructure rebuilding--one demonstrating that Europe still has some wisdom to offer. An October 27th NYTimes article by Malte Lehming notes that Germany does not suffer from outages from major (even minor) storms. This is because the Germans are willing to build and pay for infrastructure that prevents them--i.e., underground utility wires.
And just yesterday, as I was going door-to-door for the campaign, one of the voters told me that the same is true of Italy, his home country. He added that the myriad of super-vulnerable wires hovering over every American street is fitting for an underdeveloped country. He said you don't see that in Europe. Moreover, (going back to my above discussion) a major program to put utility wires underground would be an important economic stimulus and provide thousands of jobs.
So, yes, we should make a major move toward infrastructure rebuilding, and include a significant upgrading of our protection for utility wires. Of course, adding such projects as protecting our subways and power stations from flooding would also be part of the bargain.
Art
Of course, the Republicans have been fighting this every step of the way. Their idea is to ameliorate the economic recession by spending less--while most economists, based on the theories of John Maynard Keynes--argue that in a recession governments should spend more--to stimulate the economy.
My reference here is to recent editorials in the NYTimes, as well as the NYTimes columns of Paul Krugman. They point out that the current European austerity policy is throwing Europe back into recession.
And given the devastation of Sandy, we now see even a more urgent need. It's not just an aging infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt, but, where Sandy hit, a devastated infrastructure.
But there is a further point on infrastructure rebuilding--one demonstrating that Europe still has some wisdom to offer. An October 27th NYTimes article by Malte Lehming notes that Germany does not suffer from outages from major (even minor) storms. This is because the Germans are willing to build and pay for infrastructure that prevents them--i.e., underground utility wires.
And just yesterday, as I was going door-to-door for the campaign, one of the voters told me that the same is true of Italy, his home country. He added that the myriad of super-vulnerable wires hovering over every American street is fitting for an underdeveloped country. He said you don't see that in Europe. Moreover, (going back to my above discussion) a major program to put utility wires underground would be an important economic stimulus and provide thousands of jobs.
So, yes, we should make a major move toward infrastructure rebuilding, and include a significant upgrading of our protection for utility wires. Of course, adding such projects as protecting our subways and power stations from flooding would also be part of the bargain.
Art
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