Surprise! It doesn't go anywhere.
It's been awhile since I've commented on Obama's activities. However, today he's making headlines with some pretty heavy (planned) public works initiatives. In the wake of the loss of 2 million plus jobs (and counting), Obama's plan should help to 1) stimulate the economy and 2) re-till the very ground (base) which gives birth to the mighty industrial-socio-economic superstructure which is American power. Let us all dance to the obamarama.
Yet one thing puzzles me regarding Obama's plan: why is the largest part of the infrastructure project geared towards roads and bridges? If the future demands that we move towards a 'green economy', shouldn't we be building mass transit, such as high speed rail, maglev trains, smart roads, etc (for some specific etc's, see below), rather than improving the very system that has been responsible for many of our current problems? I suppose if these proposed new roads and bridges are flooded with green cars, such investment will be worthwhile; but that potentiality would hinge on the Detroit bailout, which is still undecided and vague. To make an analogy to the body: why clean out the arteries that carry unhealthy fats if you're just going to keep ingesting more of the same? Rather, we should do away with the problem altogether - or at least radically rethink both the problem as well as the solution.
Here are two links to Obama's plan. If you haven't read up on what Obama wants to do, please take a moment and check it out. I've followed up with some links to alternative types of 'infrastructure-transportation' improvements that I beleive to be more prudent.
NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/politics/07radio.html?pagewanted=1&hp
Politico:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16258.html
So hey Obama, Instead of focusing on antiquated ideas, how about thinking of new technologies and real alternative transportation solutions. Here are a few:
http://www.smartskyways.com/index.html
http://www.fastransitinc.com/
And this might be the coolest:
http://hyrail-backup.us/
1 comment:
first of all, eric, you are blog-crazy! second, you should write the obama peeps and tell them. i bet there's actually a chance someone might listen. or join moveon and have them do it for you. they'd be into it. stop complaining and do something!
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