Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Highway Robbery?

The issue of our national infrastructure isn't one I'd normally address, except that dictator fan boys in our media swoon over the thought of China's authoritarian ability to just build stuff. I've thought the panic overblown, and this author, in light of another survey that condemns us relative to other countries, addresses the problems with the infrastructure panic movement:

Top-notch though it is, the U.S. infrastructure could use an upgrade; by their very nature, roads, bridges and the rest require constant maintenance. The effort could boost both current employment and the economy’s capacity to grow in the future.

The people who build those bridges and roads have reason to say we are horrible. And I wouldn't say it is even mostly dishonest. But when your life is about seeing infrastructure, you are likely to sincerely believe flawless infrastructure that is never allowed to go below certain levels is very important.

You can always find a bridge or road that really should have been upgraded or repaired a couple years ago. But overall our infrastructure is working just fine. Could it be better? Of course it could. Is it cost-effective and worth the expense to make it perfect? Well, that's what our democracy is supposed to answer. We have limited means (really, despite our borrowing spree that is true) and unlimited needs and wants. We have to choose. We don't need to be China for a day to let unaccountable elites who aren't nearly as smart as they pretend make the choices.