America needs repair

[mellowtigger]

I missed this CNN article when it first came out. It talks about America's failing grade for its infrastructure.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/28/infrastructure.report.card/

The group doing the grading is the American Society of Civil Engineers. Their recent report cards are as follows: (i = incomplete or not graded):

category	2009	2005	2001	1998	1988
Aviation	D	D+	D	C-	B-
Bridges	C	C	C	C-	C+
Dams	D	D	D	D	i
Drinking Water	D-	D-	D	D	B-
Energy	D+	D	D+	i	i
Hazardous Waste	D	D	D+	D-	D
Inland Waterways	D-	D-	D+	i	i
Public Parks and Recreation	C-	C-	i	i	i
Rail	C-	C-	i	i	i
Roads	D-	D	D+	D-	C+
Schools	D	D	D-	F	i
Security	i	i	i	i	i
Solid Waste	C+	C+	C+	C-	C-
Transit	D	D+	C-	C	C-
Wastewater	D-	D-	D	D+	C
Levees	D-	i	i	i	i
estimated 5-year cost	$2.2 trillion	$1.6 trillion	$1.3 trillion	i	i

Note that the current estimated cost is 3X the massive spending bill passed by congress this month. As a solution, some people are proposing bringing back the Depression-era organization called the "Civilian Conservation Corps". In this program, people (men) lived in work camps and were housed, clothed, and fed by the government. They were required to send 80% of their earnings (which were small) back to their families. Their projects included forestry, roads, parks, phone lines, and flood control.

I think of it sort of as a homeland version of the Peace Corps but much bigger. The proposal this time is to include women in their ranks. If they recreate this group, then I hope they'll also consider old men like me. I think it's a project worth leaving home to join.

The conditions were harsh, and their unofficial motto was "We Can Take It".  Some people hoping to recreate this group have their own website with good history and other information.
http://www.wecantakeit.org/

The massive spending bill just passed is only a small part of what's needed to help America succeed.  For much too long, we've diverted precious resources from national investment into personal investment (war profiteering, house profiteering, etc), and it'll take a long time to get ourselves out of this problem.  We first have to muster the intention to do so.

You can help notify Washington DC of your support by signing the petition to recreate the Civilian Conservation Corps.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/national-petition-for-the-reactivation-of-the-us-civilian-conservation-corps