12-15-2008, 06:15 PM
Dakota wrote:
[quote=JoeH]
[quote=Dakota]
Politicians better think past "roads and bridges". This ain't the 30s. People aren't hungry enough to go shovel dirt at 2am in 20 below weather.
However there are plenty of unemployed and underemployed construction workers around to build those "roads and bridges". And many of these projects have a training/local worker provisions that may get some people trained in a trade they can work in after this recession. Also the payroll for the workers in these projects will get spent on those workers' families and homes, bringing economic activity to areas around them as well.
No arguments here but it seems to me when politicians can't think of anything they fall back on "roads and bridges" thing. This economy is a lot bigger than that.
What people have to keep in mind is the fact "roads and bridges" are the projects that are most likely to be the ones that could be started almost immediately to get the whole thing rolling. As someone (I think Swampy) already pointed out, winding through the massive amounts of planning and red tape could take years before other projects could get to the point of actual work. There are thousands of areas in this country where road and bridge projects are lined up and ready to go. It's very logical to start with those.
I do have a plan for getting this started, so if anyone would like to recommend me for a consulting position with the new administration, I will consider accepting.
