Brigham A. McCown Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram Home About Articles Video Contributor National Journal Forbes Huffington Post Fuel Fix Newsletter Contact Infrastructure: Love Won’t Save Us December 20, 2013 National Journal We as American citizens need to realize that more often than not, the federal government doesn’t have all the answers. This is especially true in regard to infrastructure funding. Transportation is a complex issue, and unfortunately, there is no one size fits all solution. So, what can our elected leaders do to guarantee a much-needed revival of our aging roadways, and meet the ever-growing needs? Get out of the way. It is as simple as keeping government from being the problem. As Senator Rockefeller so aptly stated, “You can’t minimize yourself into greatness,” the same truth applies to transportation. The US cannot minimize its way into becoming a cutting edge transportation network. That being said, the key is to recognize smart investment strategies versus throwing armfuls of money at the problem and hoping it goes away. How can we do more for less? Private investment dollars hold the answer, as it does in so many cases. Utilizing private investment banks to fund transportation isn’t a new idea – it was first proposed ten years ago during the Bush administration. And it’s about time the government learned to play smart by unleashing the power of private capital. The investment of private dollars in our nation’s infrastructure is contingent upon the same principals that the free market operates on, supplying the right product only where there is real demand. This is a crucial concept considering how varied our transportation needs are region to region. The private sector has the incentive to meet these needs as effectively as possible especially in terms of time and money, which is a lot more than can be said of the public sector. Both Senator Thune and Senator Rockefeller are correct in asserting that up-to-date infrastructure is a necessary investment in our future, and without it a robust economy is out of question. Congress has yet to deliver so far, but there is room for improvement. Thune hits the nail on the head when suggesting that Congress can do more, but not without first examining where savings can be found within the department’s budget. Let’s start by making sure current funds are kept on target and away from pet projects. The American populace demands action, and it is the government’s job to address these shortages in ways that won’t hurt the average Joe. Search Archives April 2022 October 2017 August 2017 May 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 April 2013 September 2012 October 2011 October 2008 August 2008 Meta Log in ThemeMakers Copyright © 2017 Brigham A. McCown. All rights reserved.