A “D” Rated Infrastructure and Jobs

When Dwight Eisenhower was in was President he placed great emphasis on improving our infrastructure. He began with the development of the Interstate Highway System we know and enjoy today. It was not supposed to stop there but begin there; however, such was not the case. As a result many folk today give our infrastructure today a rating of D.

The American Society of Civil Engineers break it down as follows:

Aviation – D

Bridges – C

Dams – D

Drinking Water – D-

Energy – D+

Hazardous Waste – D

Inland Waterways – D

Levees – D-

Public Parks and Recreation – C-

Rail – C-

Roads – D-

Schools – D

Solid Waste – C+

Transit – D

Wastewater – D-

America’s Infrastructure GPA – D

Estimated 5 Year Investment Need: $2.2 Trillion

Numerous websites have published their grade: The civil engineers site; NBC, CNN Money, The Huffington Post and repeated in a Latino Job Recovery site; and many others.

The president will be making his State of the Union Address this evening and the emphasis is supposed to be on jobs. But how we invest in jobs is important. Investments in infrastructure jobs show on an investment of every dollar invested the public return is $1.92 according to Robert Reich. He also says studies show investment in early childhood education gives a return between 10 and 16%

We know investment in the country’s infrastructure will give benefit to everyone directly or indirectly. This is in contrast to moneys given to specific industries. Not that we should not invest in small business and the like, but the bigger bang for the buck is in government expenditures for improving our infrastructure.

State governors tend to emphasis local business stimulation; that is their vested interest. The larger picture however, shows investment should be primarily in the infrastructure.

Of course the opponents of the rational approach will throw up the usual roadblocks of debt reduction. I believe such arguments are short sighted. We need to invest in the country, government expenditures, including expanding the current debt in order to be strong for the future. Europe had a good history there until recently when the developed the austerity programs which have proved ineffective and worsened their economies.

Here is a place for us to show real leadership based upon long range reality.

My hope is that is what the president will push forward giving what concessions to the short sight right as needed. And let us hope the congress may embrace this and moderates from both parties see the handwriting on the wall and respond appropriately.

I guess we will see.