Thoughts on U.S. Infrastructure
Barflys…
So here is my angle for the next bit of press: This Alaska pipeline fiasco has had legs way longer than I imagined it would. While it is still making headlines all over the place, I am getting the feeling that nearly every angle of it has been hit. At first, everyone panicked and thought it was $5.00 gas for sure, but then the media realized that it wasn't the end of the world and our Middle East partners were already picking up the slack. Now, the focus has turned to the future (Is the bigger and more vital trans-Alaska pipeline next? How will this be fixed?).
Of what I have read so far, no one has had the stones to take a big shot at Uncle Sam as a whole. First there was Katrina, then nationwide brownouts every summer. Now, we read about the pipeline, and a soon-to-be water crisis. As our economy shrinks and our stance as a super power diminishes, it seems as though we have been just waiting for the next crisis instead of being proactive about fixing infrastructure before it is tragically broken. It seems to be that everyone knew that New Orleans was in a frightening flood basin and was over exposed; experts (American Society of Civil Engineers, etc.) know that our infrastructure is not up to standard and destined to let us down. And now, it seems that U.S. oil companies would rather keep the money flowing in than stop the pipelines for maintenance.
In the end, how will continuation of this reactionary way of thinking affect our economy? Citizens in general?
What do you guys think will happen? Will we spend as much as we can and fix it all? Think we will just have to undergo lifestyle changes? Is this a global trend? I know you guys have been looking at places in the Far East; is everyone else failing to be proactive about these issues?
I'd be excited to get some ideas on this topic from you all – whether they fall within the answers to these questions or take different angles all together.
Ian
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