4 ms·

Flint is not the only one. Parts of Chicago have very low quality tap water, as do other cities. In my view, the problem is that we have no chance of upgrading

Flint is not the only one. Parts of Chicago have very low quality tap water, as do other cities. In my view, the problem is that we have no chance of upgrading any infrastructure in the US ever. Consider that most tax dollars go to the Federal government and go to wars and entitlements. The small bit of tax dollars left for local governments, the ones who would need to undertake infrastructure renewal projects locally, is simply nowhere near enough to fix the problem. The same problem exists in many domains. Roads covered in potholes, power grid unsuitable for installing superchargers, last mile broadband owned by monopoly players with no incentive to improve upon it, long lines at government offices and months of wait time for things as simple as building permits, property values decimated by failing school systems, and polluting industries grandfathered in and allowed to pollute in unconscionable ways.

paulryanrogers 2y ago
Doesn't the fed subsidize or pay for a huge portion of infrastructure: highways, ports, waterways, even some bridges?
phkahler 2y ago
>> entitlements I really hate that word. People apply it in a derogatory way to social security, which is funded through a separate tax, and has its own pile of money. The only way it really affects the federal budget is when they borrow from that fund or have to pay back into it.
- resters 2y ago
  I wasn’t trying to use it in a derogatory way. It just happens to be where most of the revenue goes.
  - phkahler 2y ago
    >> I wasn’t trying to use it in a derogatory way. It just happens to be where most of the revenue goes. SS taxes aren't general revenue. And any part of other revenue paying for SS is actually repaying the loan taken out by treasury.
    - resters 2y ago
      Right. The point of my comment was not about how the accounting is (or should be) done, but on how little of the dollars paid overall in taxes are able to be used to improve infrastructure. That doesn't mean that none of the existing uses are worthwhile, just that we are unlikely to see political changes that result in significant infrastructure investment.
colechristensen 2y ago
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t comment your doom and gloom based on your feelings, have actual information. >no chance of upgrading any infrastructure ever The recent huge federal infrastructure bill included $50 billion for various kinds of water projects. The senseless commentary of people whose statements are based on nothing but gut feelings infuriates me. It does not belong here.
- resters 2y ago
  $50 billion isn’t Remotely enough to address serious traffic gridlock in even one major city

paulryanrogers 2y ago

Doesn't the fed subsidize or pay for a huge portion of infrastructure: highways, ports, waterways, even some bridges?

phkahler 2y ago

>> entitlements I really hate that word. People apply it in a derogatory way to social security, which is funded through a separate tax, and has its own pile of money. The only way it really affects the federal budget is when they borrow from that fund or have to pay back into it.

resters 2y ago
I wasn’t trying to use it in a derogatory way. It just happens to be where most of the revenue goes.
- phkahler 2y ago
  >> I wasn’t trying to use it in a derogatory way. It just happens to be where most of the revenue goes. SS taxes aren't general revenue. And any part of other revenue paying for SS is actually repaying the loan taken out by treasury.
  - resters 2y ago
    Right. The point of my comment was not about how the accounting is (or should be) done, but on how little of the dollars paid overall in taxes are able to be used to improve infrastructure. That doesn't mean that none of the existing uses are worthwhile, just that we are unlikely to see political changes that result in significant infrastructure investment.

colechristensen 2y ago

You have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t comment your doom and gloom based on your feelings, have actual information. >no chance of upgrading any infrastructure ever The recent huge federal infrastructure bill included $50 billion for various kinds of water projects. The senseless commentary of people whose statements are based on nothing but gut feelings infuriates me. It does not belong here.

resters 2y ago
$50 billion isn’t Remotely enough to address serious traffic gridlock in even one major city