by Casey Clay

Created on: July 03, 2008

Today, many Americans are thinking of new ways to stretch their paychecks. The current economic recession has many citizens concerned about the future. Gas prices are at an all-time high and current projections only see the price increasing. As more and more people across America begin to feel the pinch of these current events, they look more and more to the government for a solution.

Many government officials say that they have little control over the economy. This is true. We live in a regulated capitalistic economic system. The market system largely responds to the economic laws of supply and demand. While the government has little control over the prices of goods and services, they do have the power to regulate commerce. This right is granted to the legislative branch through the first article of the Constitution of the United States. While many are blaming the President they should, instead, be writing to their Representatives.

It is Congress that decides what regulations should be created for our nation's economy. The President does, however, play a role in this process. He has the power to veto legislation passed by the Congress. He also must execute the laws once they have been created. This is done through the various governmental departments that are overseen by the President and his cabinet. If legislation were to pass that would increase funding for transportation infrastructure the department that would be in charge of overseeing such a project would be the United States Department of Transportation.

The problem with getting such a measure passed is federalism. Our federal government brings all of our 50 states together under one central government. Our Congress is composed of individuals who represent each of these states. The problem that measures of this type run into is gaining the support of enough representatives to pass both houses of Congress. If certain states do not benefit from such a proposal, then they will most likely not support it. The way for such a measure to gain enough support to pass is through the activism of concerned citizens.

Why should individuals support such a measure? The answer is in the current state of the economy. When people think of the economy they do not often think of transportation. They think instead of interest rates and the stock market and the value of the dollar. Historically, however, periods of economic prosperity are preceded by large investments in infrastructure. If you examine the nuts and bolts

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