Poll: Americans Strongly Back Increase in Infrastructure Spending

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There are a number of infrastructure investments that will ultimately provide improved security as well as improved long term growth and prosperity. I believe there are three keys to this:
1) Roads and bridges that are expanded ultimately reduce time spent in traffic and fuel use. These two combined account for a significant increase in productivity (not waiting in traffic) and cash available for investment (not spending it on time in traffic or fuel). Of course, avoiding the inevitable disruptions caused by catastrophic or even partial failures is of great benefit also.
2) Investing in alternative energy solutions and power distribution can provide significant savings in energy, more resilience against natural forces and as a result less money spent recovering from them, reduced disruptions in productivity, and - perhaps most important - by building and upgrading our energy distribution infrastructure we indirectly fund research and development in the private sector. This R&D investment later provides us with exportable technologies and even manufactured products. Also, the improved infrastructure and increased footprint of solar, wind, and other renewable energy alternatives reduces our dependence on foreign fossil fuels which thereby reduces the risks and security exposures associated with that.
3) Investments in broadband improve reliability, reduce costs, and provide opportunities for information based products and services to thrive here instead of elsewhere. The innovation that can be built upon these improved services represents a renewable, long term source for exportable virtual products and services as well as new capabilities that can act as catalysts for unrelated innovations in other industries.
Many infrastructure projects simply cannot be done without being done by the government -- precisely because the there is no profit in these projects for private companies. The profits from these projects can only be realized by the users of the infrastructure over the long term and for a private firm it is always easier and frightfully more desirable to prefer short term low risk investments over long term projects that will benefit everyone diffusely. Those kinds of investments -- infrastructure -- are precisely what governments need to do: Promote the general welfare.

TreateMeLikeARoad ALT230.Music of VA 2:36AM October 20, 2011

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Laughexplanation of 5:26AM December 06, 2009

I believe that also we should expect a long term return from the investments we make. One example would be for aid to schools can be in the form of solar panels for the roof tops of the buildings. This not only provides jobs to manufacture a clean energy source, install the project but it will reduce the utility expenditures that local Boards of Education annually. These monies that are saved can be put into actual education activities. Immediate and long term return.
Transportation projects should address and use this approach as well. Reduce congestion, travel time, promote efficient use of the power that is consumed to move people and goods. Monies used to improve our efficiency will reduce our dependence on outside sources.

David M Pinckney of GA 12:37PM January 09, 2009

The simple fact is this...if a munucipality or state can't get money to pay for needed infrastructure improvements - by needed, I mean : to keep up with population growth and higher traffic volumes (including heavy trucks carrying goods). The systems are going to fail. New subdivisions are built and hooked up to utilities, but the water plant and waste water treatment plants stay the same size while supporting greater volumes...we build new without updating the old. The same is true for bridges & highways. If the fed doesn't provide funding, rest assured, your local and state taxes will see sharp increases. either way the money will come from the public. CT uses a gas tax and income tax...cutbacks on driving & people losing jobs means a further loss. the burden will fall somewhere. An added note- I disagree with these major corporate & wall street bailouts - ridiculous. Why? Because they're big companies. If you add up all of the mid sized and small companies, you'd see even more people are affected by those...it's everywhere. Why do the biggest companies get a bailout? Why do my tax dollars pay their bonuses? Our mid sized company couldn't give raises this year and had to let go of some employees. Should the government bail us out? No...because where does it stop. Public infrastructure is ours and needed - that's not a bailout.

Trace of CT 12:20PM January 09, 2009

The poll is a joke - see last 5 questions.

J. Less of DE 11:04AM January 09, 2009

It did not work in the 30's here our in Japan in the 90's in fact that is what drove us in to the depperssion in the 30's We are selling our childrens future. I can not belive how selfless we are. It will grow much bigger then it is and we will let our children and grand children pay for it. Not once in history has the government implament a porgram that has cost what they have said it cost or done what they have said it would do.Our best bet is to reduce taxes and government spending to give our children a better life. God bless us all for what they are about to do because the next bubble to burst is government debt.And there will be no one to bail that out and it will be worse.

Texas oil of TX 8:47AM January 09, 2009

Is the media making up poll numbers to support running up the national debt to trillions of dollars? The majority of Americans know that if an entity spends more than it has, it will soon grow broke. What government needs to do is to cut wasteful spending and lower taxes across the board so that the free market system can once again flourish.

Phillip of Orlanlo of FL 8:10AM January 09, 2009

Does anyone remember two government funded and planned "building" projects: The Big Dig in Boston and the US Capitol Visitor's Center? Both of them way behind schedule and let us not even get into the cost! Now, imagine the same government in charge of infrastruture projects across the nation. As far as all those people "willing" to pay more in taxes to fund all these programs, I am a bit dubious to say the least. US News and World Report is part of the MSM that are in the pocket of the messiah. As someone who lives in the Washington,D.C. area, I am witnessing first hand the media and Hollywood idiots absolutely peeing themselves over obama.
The next four years should have a new slogan: Be AFRAID--Be VERY AFRAID!!!

Diane Barbe of MD 7:45AM January 09, 2009