Comments on: Infrastructure in Need http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/06/13/infrastructure-in-need/ The National Association of Manufacturers Premier Manufacturing Blog Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:57:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Shopfloor » Blog Archive » Private Infrastructure Financing Attacked — In the Comics http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/06/13/infrastructure-in-need/#comment-3712 Shopfloor » Blog Archive » Private Infrastructure Financing Attacked — In the Comics Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:54 +0000 http://www.shopfloor.org/?p=6895#comment-3712 [...] The thing is, as government takes on more and more responsibilities, and demographics meet financing meet overpromising politicians (Social Security, Medicare), well, there’s less public money available to do the things the public demands. Try building the Interstate Highway System from scratch nowadays. [...] [...] The thing is, as government takes on more and more responsibilities, and demographics meet financing meet overpromising politicians (Social Security, Medicare), well, there’s less public money available to do the things the public demands. Try building the Interstate Highway System from scratch nowadays. [...]

]]> By: Alexander D. Mitchell IV http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/06/13/infrastructure-in-need/#comment-3195 Alexander D. Mitchell IV Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:02:13 +0000 http://www.shopfloor.org/?p=6895#comment-3195 Okay, if you're going to point to the recent problems of the Washington Metro as the examples of "infrastructure collapse," I feel it my duty to point out that, contrary to your thesis, the Washington Metro is PURELY a product of the Great Society era--so much so, in fact, that the definitive history of the system, by Zachary Schrag, is titled "The Great Society Subway"! Yes, we can argue that the default mode of most American infrastructure maintenance is "crisis repair mode," but the transit systems of most American cities--including bus and rail lines, even commuter trains--are relics of privately-built (with city charter/franchise oversight) transit or rail systems, which are now suffering from typically a half-century or more of government oversight/ownership/operation. Okay, if you’re going to point to the recent problems of the Washington Metro as the examples of “infrastructure collapse,” I feel it my duty to point out that, contrary to your thesis, the Washington Metro is PURELY a product of the Great Society era–so much so, in fact, that the definitive history of the system, by Zachary Schrag, is titled “The Great Society Subway”! Yes, we can argue that the default mode of most American infrastructure maintenance is “crisis repair mode,” but the transit systems of most American cities–including bus and rail lines, even commuter trains–are relics of privately-built (with city charter/franchise oversight) transit or rail systems, which are now suffering from typically a half-century or more of government oversight/ownership/operation.

]]> By: Auspex http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/06/13/infrastructure-in-need/#comment-3194 Auspex Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:15:46 +0000 http://www.shopfloor.org/?p=6895#comment-3194 Remember, the Orange Line debacle this week was just days after an Act of God shutdown last week during the storms that turned my 45-minute commute into a three-hour nightmare! Virginia should quit funding Metro until the system is fixed. But it will never be fixed because Metro is, at its heart, a District of Columbia creature, with all the attendant corruption and incompetence. Remember, the Orange Line debacle this week was just days after an Act of God shutdown last week during the storms that turned my 45-minute commute into a three-hour nightmare!

Virginia should quit funding Metro until the system is fixed. But it will never be fixed because Metro is, at its heart, a District of Columbia creature, with all the attendant corruption and incompetence.

]]> By: JLawson http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/06/13/infrastructure-in-need/#comment-3193 JLawson Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:36:15 +0000 http://www.shopfloor.org/?p=6895#comment-3193 Infrastructure isn't sexy. It isn't neat, clean, or pretty. But it's vital for civilization - and ignoring it while it deteriorates is like a homeowner ignoring a 'soft' spot in the floor. Eventually, you're gonna put a foot through it. At which point you find out if it was dry rot or termites - but either way it's going to be even more expensive to fix... Infrastructure isn’t sexy. It isn’t neat, clean, or pretty. But it’s vital for civilization - and ignoring it while it deteriorates is like a homeowner ignoring a ’soft’ spot in the floor.

Eventually, you’re gonna put a foot through it. At which point you find out if it was dry rot or termites - but either way it’s going to be even more expensive to fix…

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