Poor Infrastructure Part 2

 

When I began my research into the infrastructure issues in this country, I started with how states divided up the funding they receive through taxes from lottery winnings. I was surprised to discover that every state claims it puts that money into education, but in fact, it allocates it to general funding. General funding is supposed to take care of infrastructure and maintain social service programs. In reality, that money doesn’t get spent on what is needed; instead, it goes into elected officials’ pork projects that might help get them reelected. This, my fellow citizens, is robbery and should be dealt with on a state level before the next election. Accordingly, I believe that a strong commitment to public infrastructure has rarely been achieved in America, both sought after and hard to realize.

As I delved deeper into the government programs, I remembered the programs FDR created under his New Deal Series of economic, social, and political reforms that he introduced in 1935. Three programs dubbed the “3 R’s” covered Relief for the Unemployed, Recovery of the economy to bring it back to normal levels, and prevent the Repeat of the disaster of the depression. His New Deal also created several other programs the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) that paid farmers to grow certain foods on their farms and the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) which hired able bodied men foer manual labor on government owned land, creation of the electrical grid and economic development programs such as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the drainage of the Tennesee River Basin.

Although the first phase of the New Deal focused on economic recovery, it also addressed key issues, such as the Banking Act of 1933 and the creation of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). FERA aimed to reduce unemployment by generating unskilled jobs in local and state governments. While these positions were costlier than cash assistance, they offered a vital boost to the self-esteem of those unemployed. From May 1933 to December 1935, FERA allocated $3.1 billion (equivalent to $70.8 billion today), supporting over 20 million people and enhancing public facilities nationwide. In 1938, FERA was renamed the Works Progress Administration and was responsible for the construction of bridges, libraries, parks, and other facilities. It also branched out into creating the Fair Labor Standards Act, whereby prohibited child labor and created the 40-hour work week that we know today. Unfortunately, the only thing the New Deal Act produced was the labor coalitions and unions we know today. By World War II, everyone thought the Tammany Hall gang members were taken down, but during the war, they were regrouping and redesigning their efforts into something new. We now know them as labor Unions, such as the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, and other union organizations that control workers. Not only do they control workers, but they also use them for bargaining power to gain more power over the industries they supposedly support. They use that power to force politicians to do their bidding in exchange for their support during an election. They buy and sell those same workers' rights at every given turn, not caring for their jobs, their families, and their financial futures. After all, those same employee’s have already paid their dues to stay in the union that doesn’t give a damn about them in the first place.

Now let’s talk about the lack of roads, bridges, and airports not being maintained. In 1956, President Eisenhower was convinced that there should be a Federal-Aid Highway Act, which would pave the way for modern transport networks that transformed national connectivity and commerce.

Our roads across America are a disgrace, filled with potholes and broken asphalt or cement, causing vehicle damage. This causes roads to be unstable during bad storms. Case in point, roads being washed away during heavy rainstorms as in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee this past year.  

Now let’s look at the Bridges that require repairs, yet instead fall apart during high commuter travel time. Bridges are falling down, causing death and destruction due to failed maintenance. Where is the money allocated for road and bridge maintenance, dogged by state legislator leaders? Whose pockets are being lined up by such payments?

With the introduction of the internet, we find so many companies latching onto their ability to use the internet for commerce and communications. Unfortunately, not all Americans can afford the high prices of the internet. This is where the SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, comes into play. The SEC is supposed to ensure that companies cannot become a monopoly, which could cause financial collapse in the economy. Unfortunately, while companies aren’t collapsing, individuals are financially collapsing under the burden of costs associated with simple living. Millions lack affordable broadband or the basic ability to communicate with the outside world. 

The American public has suffered from persistent infrastructure problems, largely due to a lack of political will. It’s time for leaders to step up and take action! Investing in our infrastructure is crucial for building a better future together. Plus, it has to do with securing our National Security. 

During President Joe Biden's time in office with the help of the 117th Congress together they redesigned the New Deal act and came up with  three new names resembling the same programs as I mentioned above, but this time they called it “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” “The American Rescue Plan,” and “The Inflation Reduction Act”.  Collectively, these initiatives would invest more than $1.2 trillion into vital improvements in transportation, clean water, and climate resilience. Unfortunately, those allocated dollars went into the pockets of Congressional friends and donors who were listed as contractors for the same programs in their home districts. We’ve not seen any improvements in the states where the money was sent. Talk about bogus programs and theft.

What was supposed to help empower communities nationwide, urban and rural alike, to pursue their aspirations and address pressing challenges effectively isn't happening at all. Instead, it's hindering every state across the country due to elected officials who are more interested in lining their pockets than in helping their fellow Americans survive and thrive.

The federal government must better address the challenges faced by small cities as well as large cities. Instead of appointing political appointees to high positions, they need to appoint people who know how to build bridges, roads, and critical infrastructure such as power, communication lines, and water lines within a grid. This approach should be standard for all agencies working with local areas.

Federal investments ought to cover a range of pivotal areas, including:

- Technical assistance 

- Support for local innovation 

- Data management capabilities  

- Strong project management 

These elements are essential for fostering effective and sustainable growth.

 Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing, with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Ashford University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.