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Has Iraq war spending shortchanged critical infrastructure priorities in America?
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Results so far:
| Yes | 77% | 72 votes | Total: 93 votes | |
| No | 23% | 21 votes |
Yes
by Elizabeth M Young
Created on: October 30, 2009
The Iraq War was planned for two reasons: to prosecute a quick and non life threatening occupation, and to establish a permanent location in the Middle East for American Strategic Military and Oil interests. The idea was that, on the surface, we would get rid of a horrible dictator and earn the grateful acceptance of the Iraqi majority. The Iraqi majority would welcome us, our military bases, our protection, and would repay us with oil.
The American oil and gas interests would actually make the profit, once the incredible diversion of our national treasure was restored, but as long as gas and oil prices did not rise, no one would care. Meanwhile, the Auto industry could continue on it's same path, avoiding changes in their designs and marketing and selling gas guzzling monsters.
We all know how it really went. We watched in horror as the situation turned into the stuff of our worst nightmares: a modern version of Vietnam, but with worse damage to Iraq and to our servicemen and our treasure. We also watched in horror as the magnitude of the diversion of national treasure from badly needed maintenance of our infrastructure to the worsening debacle in Iraq became known to us, despite allowing the most criminal, secretive, belligerent and threatening administrations in US history to go on for two terms. The young people have a term for this: "We got played."
Our bridges have deteriorated to alarming levels. America has 592,473 bridges. Nationwide, 155,144 bridges, or 26.2 percent are either obsolete or are functionally deficient. For New York, the percentage is 37.5. In Michigan, the number is 27.9. 1
In 2001, the US had 655 miles of transit tunnels, 28 percent of which were considered to be substandard. 2 Yet the most massive movement of material in the history of America was already being considered, as there were already plans for the invasion of Iraq. The secretive "energy" meetings, where the corporate energy interests, but not the public or it's representatives, had been invited to secret discussions that never saw the light of day under the increasingly stubborn and belligerent atmosphere in Washington DC.
Every facet of our national infrastructures, from our physical plants to our national treasures, have had cutbacks, projects put on hold, and staffing cut in order to finance the Iraq war and other hastily and poorly established agencies to combat the so called "war on terror", which included agencies and measures at home, but which had far more assets diverted to an unnecessary war in Iraq that has gone on for eight years.
We have spent more to build permanent bases in Iraq, and to move an incredible volume of assets to supply those bases. When our Army goes, our Army's stuff goes with it. Now, one of the largest moves of material in the history of the world is going on in order to retrieve some of those assets before we leave Iraq to fend for itself, worse off than it was before we intervened there. 3
At home, all of the peacetime plans for better roads, to repair crumbling public schools and public hospitals, and to build light rail in order to relieve traffic have been cut back. Our infrastructure has always included our economy, which is in shambles for a variety of reasons, including the failure of the Iraq War to pay for itself with oil.
We did not get the oil revenue to replace the funds that were diverted from our own infrastructure, because Iraq's oil infrastructure is in shambles. So yes, spending on Iraq has cost us a decade of advancement and repair of our own infrastructure, with no restoration of funds in sight.
1. MSNBC: State By State Bridges
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No
by William Banks
Created on: February 25, 2009 Last Updated: February 27, 2009
The Iraq war has been costly and at times badly mismanaged. That being said, it has nothing to do with our failing infrastructure. It seems very clear to this tax payer that we have a broken government. A government that has the ability to be completely irresponsible with the citizens money. While seeming unaware of any wastefulness at the time. This part of the government I view as totally out to lunch. On the flip side we have the corrupt and truly greedy politicians who operate with intent to rob those that pay their salaries. In the end it all adds up to Joe Tax Payer splitting his hard earned wages with a bunch of half stupid and half corrupt free loaders.
I believe that our infrastructure is in need of servicing. I don't however believe it is in shambles. There is no doubt in my mind that the levee system in the central valley has the potential to become a less devastating, but very costly California brand Katrina. There are projects similar to this all over California. The state is in the hole for better than $40 Billion. That has nothing to do with the war. That has everything to do with waste and an unacceptable disregard for the peoples money. Cal Trans should be taking care of us. I think anyone who has ever driven past a Cal Trans crew working/napping can figure that part of the problem out. As I see it. We have been completely betrayed.
So, what do we do? It is not the model for America that broke. It was the discipline of the people. A few hundred years worth democratic strain. The day to day political schemes and agendas have taken a heavy toll on the people in power. The way I see it our leaders have all but committed Felonies and some I believe even treason.
As a tax payer I think about the money. It is a hefty part of one's paycheck. I see the value I'm parting with every two weeks. I know that I would feel less cheated if I knew my family was safe from foreign invaders, that we were as a country paying absolute attention to detail when it comes to every American life.I'd feel less robbed if half the crooks in Washington could just pay taxes with me. I am a man that likes the idea of self reliance and personal responsibility. The most important role for government in my vision of democracy is that the country stand in front of the rest of the world with one voice. I believe I pay taxes to keep our country together as one sovereign nation. The government however has decided to turn a blind eye to an invasion unlike anything America has ever dealt with.
I take it back. Our infrastructure, national identity, and our safety is in very scary shape. Still I think the problems and the total disregard would still be on our plate even had we not gone to war. That doesn't mean I am in complete support of an effort to secure borders for Iraqi's. While allowing our own homes to be invaded to the tune of 20 Million and counting.
You know, the government works for the people. The constitution is written to suggest that the military is also for the people. If enough of the people got together in their neighborhoods and held elections. Start with small offices like city planner and mayor. You could then ask that the current politician resign. Just explain to them that they had an unsatisfactory review and were being "Let go". In turn the people if so motivated and brave. Could then ask the governor to step down. I think you get the picture. Completely cleansing and refreshing our great land. It would be a wonderful gift for those that are to follow us. Or we can stick them with narco terror, broken government, and trillions of dollars of selfish debt.
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