Throughout the past week, the Republican-controlled Congress struggled to extend the current program for transportation infrastructure (check out this article to learn more). Keep in mind, this is just a short extension of an inadequate existing program, not the investment that this country desperately needs. When are the conservatives of today going to face the needs of our infrastructure?
For Kansas, l think of the conservative Kansas Congressional Delegation back in the 50's and 60's who wisely, in my opinion, brought home federal tax dollars to build our reservoir system for flood control, irrigation, municipal water supply, and recreation. Just think for a moment where Kansas, or any other state with similar needs for that matter, would be without help to build that system. I remember the devastating floods in the very early 50’s. Could we have done this on our own? Of course not. It wouldn't have happened.
That is true today as well for much of our current infrastructure needs. So where are we headed? What is it going to take to bring change to how we in this country address our key infrastructure needs? I always used to associate conservative thinking with wisely investing and looking for the most efficient ways to proceed. They understood that unnecessarily delaying action would simply lead to higher costs and inflict avoidable pain further down the road.
When will we have reached the point where we need to do something that involves raising taxes and increasing budgets for infrastructure needs? Studies done by civil engineers, for example, are frightening. How many bridges will need to collapse, needed wheel alignments soar, or accident fatalities escalate for action to be taken just with the highway and road system? Similar concerns could be raised about our aging water and wastewater systems, rail, and others. Keep in mind, as many industry leaders have pointed out, that this would also provide a lot of good jobs as well as a significant boost to our economy.
For Kansas, l think of the conservative Kansas Congressional Delegation back in the 50's and 60's who wisely, in my opinion, brought home federal tax dollars to build our reservoir system for flood control, irrigation, municipal water supply, and recreation. Just think for a moment where Kansas, or any other state with similar needs for that matter, would be without help to build that system. I remember the devastating floods in the very early 50’s. Could we have done this on our own? Of course not. It wouldn't have happened.
That is true today as well for much of our current infrastructure needs. So where are we headed? What is it going to take to bring change to how we in this country address our key infrastructure needs? I always used to associate conservative thinking with wisely investing and looking for the most efficient ways to proceed. They understood that unnecessarily delaying action would simply lead to higher costs and inflict avoidable pain further down the road.
When will we have reached the point where we need to do something that involves raising taxes and increasing budgets for infrastructure needs? Studies done by civil engineers, for example, are frightening. How many bridges will need to collapse, needed wheel alignments soar, or accident fatalities escalate for action to be taken just with the highway and road system? Similar concerns could be raised about our aging water and wastewater systems, rail, and others. Keep in mind, as many industry leaders have pointed out, that this would also provide a lot of good jobs as well as a significant boost to our economy.
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