this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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A Boring Dystopia
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Is this an old tweet? This year alone $1.2 trillion was passed in spending on infrastructure at the federal level.
We have backlogged projects, let alone maintenance on existing infrastructure, not even getting to the costs of upgrading ancient infrastructure - a lot of municipalities still use clay pipes.
Right now deferred maintenance is roughly a trillion dollars.
IDK about where you live, but I travel a lot for work and in my area and the places I travel there is a ton of work being done that has started in the last few months. If you want to ignore reality and wallow in your memes, I won't stop you; but, you're wrong.
Anecdotal. 1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending barely touches the overall need. If that were all used to fix what is breaking, it would just do that. But then it wouldn't cover new projects, projects in planning stages since they like to fund "shovel ready," and it doesn't touch the shit show that is private utilities.
It's a start, but we've got decades of catching up to do. Also consider that your 1.2 trillion figure is a multi-year cost.
1.2 trillion is also just one single federal bill, it doesn't take into account the previously existing federal budget or any money/work being done by state and municipal governments. My biggest beef with this meme is that it blames "politicians" when it should really blame "Republicans." Keep in mind the 1.2 trillion barely squeaked by Republican opposition.
Same, and they are new projects. And a single bill doesn't represent all allocated funds for the maintenance of current infrastructure like what is being talked about. But, given this sub, I think cynicism will prevail no matter the subject.
Except the US hasn't been spending on infrastructure for a long time. Obama wanted a similar sum and that was almost a decade ago. We're not improving, we're barely maintaining.
That's because infrastructure improvements have to be completed using taxes from the rich and corporations.
Also, big construction projects mean Union jobs. It's tough to get someone who has been earing a great wage as a laborer to accept less money from a job that requires a college degree.
Washington State ferries are dropping like flies, and the condition of many of our bridges is shocking. We aren't even maintaining.
You're right, investment in infrastructure has rebounded, but its easy to ignore the hard fought battles and just be cynical. But also things aren't perfect and our priorities can be better. For me that's investments in health care for all and making higher ed cheaper.
Eh sorry buddy on lemmy we hate the USA and love China. Also blame everything on capitalism, even - and especially - if it has nothing to do with it
Having legitimate criticisms of the country you live in
wHy Do YoU hAtE aMeRiCa?!?!