Where are the massive public works projects?

[Hugabear]

With the economy struggling to recover (if you can even call it a "recovery"), with tens of millions of Americans in need of work, where are all the public works projects that were promised? Throughout the country, we have roads that need to be repaired, bridges that need to be renovated, and many other projects that could employ people. What we need is another Great Depression-era public works project, but on an even larger scale. It really irks me watching documentaries about how structures like the Hoover Dam were built over a generation ago, why can't we do this nowadays? We could be killing two birds with one stone - creating jobs for Americans, and building a national infrastructure of clean power.

[taught_me_patience]

1. Afghanistan... n/t

[Poll_Blind]

22. +1

PB

[Javaman]

34. +1.

they were divided up between the corporate contractors.

[Skink]

2. We are living in the Bizzaro America.

where cutting taxes leads to growth.

[JDPriestly]

21. Cutting taxes on the rich can lead to a very quick spurt of growth

followed eventually by pretty deep a recession.

That is because the additional revenue that remains with the rich when we cut their taxes these days gets invested overseas, not here. So the rich take their tax cut money and invest it in India or China or in something that is very risky like derivatives which don't really support stability and jobs in our economy.

Cutting taxes at this time isn't the way to grow the American economy or reduce unemployment.

Obama used to much of the stimulus money to lower taxes. It was a promising political ploy. It didn't work for the economy, and it didn't earn him votes in 2010.

[Capitalocracy]

27. I wish we were, then we'd be doing great

The problem is, we have a bunch of leaders who think we live on Bizarro World, while the rest of us are stuck here in the real world.

[RandomThoughts]

3. You have to ask the question in order of priorities.

How will that make a profit for the top 1%
How will that add ability for the top 1% to control society.

Then you see why it does not occur, as it should.

dispersing production local self sustainable areas, all handling pollution and production, and then to bring groups together, not money trade, but cultural exchange with travel being easier for many people.


That would assume you would want to correct the system.

Some think people are evil, or even hate people, and think they should be controlled.

[Hugabear]

6. Well, the TVA is owned by the government - so rethugs would absolutely oppose any new version

Damn socialism... :sarcasm:

[RandomThoughts]

11. The thing is a working system requiers many functioning components.

Any failure of one component, can lead to the death spiral of the society.

So democracy is needed, so that those in charge are rotated, and not left in power until the pool of those available becomes only a few bad apples.

And information to the people is needed, so they can have some ideas of who to vote for and support. And so the people are part of the decisions society makes by them having to be educated as to why something needs to occur.

And transparency is needed to keep those things from getting corrupt.

And a sense that society is important matters to avoid cabals thinking that some small club can take what they want, or rule in secrecy.



They took down the media after Vietnam, they used secrecy in Intelligence to target many of those that are capable of leading, and McCarthyism to silence those that speak about it. The leaders out there fighting for what is better, in public and private sectors are far more rare then they use to be.


So not arguing anymore, it will be corrected some other way, becuase I am due beer and travel money.

Suzanne Vega - Luka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZt7J0iaUD0


Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw



I am still standing.


And if it is 'clear' why hasn't the beer and travel money arrived.

[Pterodactyl]

4. Where I live, there are lots of highway projects.

They are rebuilding overpasses, widening the interstate - and tying up traffic! We can see the improvements all ready, but I'll be glad when it is done.

[midnight]

5. It's really not the Govt.... JOB to create jobs.... It has been

redirected to the Chamber of Commerece....

[PoliticAverse]

7. In Iraq... n/t

[enlightenment]

8. Didn't the someone say that there wouldn't be any WPA

style programs?

I seem to recall reading that . . . *looking* . . . ah - it was Jared Bernstein, former chief economist for Biden:

http://jaredbernsteinblog.com/shoulds-versus-coulds/

"The administration has no appetite" for such things, apparently.

[Atman]

9. There are lots of them. We're rebuilding Afghanistan, Irag, soon Syria and...

Just not a penny here in the U.S.

Taking care of our own people and our own infrastructure is sooooooo passé.

[KittyWampus]

10. The Republicans drowned them in the bathtub.

[RB TexLa]

12. They are working on roads all over the place here. Many that were just fine before they started

working on them

[Hugabear]

19. Roads are fine, but we need a lot more than that

Bridges, railroads, clean energy infrastructure, levees, etc - plenty of things that need to be done.

[RB TexLa]

35. Most of this is a waste of money. The roads didn't need anything done to them.

[slipslidingaway]

13. People backed a surge instead of a works green administration. n/t

[RKP5637]

14. Agree, but if it makes no big bucks for the MIC it's on the back burner. I think it's

all being very poorly managed. This country used to do things in a big way and quickly. Those leaders apparently have died long ago. Now we have a contentious void and a lot of shenanigans. Hence, nothing gets done.

[lonestarnot]

15. 2 billion dollars per week just thrown in the shitter that's why.

[somone]

16. Not here, that's for sure

[gimama]

17. wpa & cca in the 1930's

built beautiful parks & facilities we still enJOY today..
& artists were hired to record & portray the problems & proograms & renewal, all across the country..
there are remarkable old recordings of folk songs & stories from those hired to do this.
YES! Where are the JOBS??

I call the unemployment office, & when I CAN get thru, it's to the automated menu, & left on hold or stuck in the loop,forever. In these days, why "outsource" jobs at the UNemployment office, to an automated system?? I can verbally protest these systems at businesses,& choose to go where I find REAL PEOPLE doing customer SERVICE, but a guv. office, not an option.

[Denver Progressive]

18. K & R +1 million

Thanks for bringing this up! :yourock:

[slay]

20. Haven't you heard - Obama doesn't believe in creating public jobs - he LOVES the "private sector"

though. ugh. :puke:

[StarsInHerHair]

23. yeah the problem starts right at the top-why is it every1 NOT in power has

a more accurate grasp of what needs to be done while our "leaders" are insisting on taking the well-known paths to failure?

[slay]

25. They have been bought and paid for by the super-rich and huge corporations

that's who they care about - that's who they represent - not us. and the pentagon has so much power and money it's sickening - to know we have people living on the streets while these war profiteers rake in the cash - but what can we do? sit back and wait for the revolution once enough people wake up to make it a critical mass i suppose. :shrug:

[fascisthunter]

38. yup... it's why we are fucked

and he's the better alternative.

[U4ikLefty]

24. We don't have enough Engineers to design our infrastructure anyway.

Obama said it, so it must be true.

[Capitalocracy]

26. Seriously, if we don't get on the ball, soon there'll be nothing left to privatize.

Then what will the robber barons do? They'll have to actually find someone to sell stuff to to make money! But nobody will have any!

[Tx4obama]

28. You mean all the job bills that the GOP is obstructing in Congress? n/t

[uponit7771]

29. ***PAY ATTENTION*** GOP has blocked many job bills in congress, FDR had 83% dem congress BHO has 51%

[blindpig]

30. And the first two years with larger majority and mandate?

Could have gone for it right from the gate, chose not to, the priorities are clear. The priorities of the ruling class, that is.

[Obamanaut]

32. That little bit of truth won't go over. nt

[KharmaTrain]

31. Shhhhh...

Don't let facts and reality get in the way of a good poutrage....

[Obamanaut]

33. They are in the same 'pending' basket as the plans to withdraw troops, close

GITMO, etc.

Looked fine during the campaign, but follow-up is somewhat lacking.

[fascisthunter]

36. China

[amborin]

37. K&R