National Infrastructure Bank

[saysmydoctor]

Proposed in Obama's 2010 budget, the idea was originated from Senators Dodd and Hagel, it is essentially the proposition of a massive overhaul of the US infrastructure--be it transportation, energy, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Infrastructure_Reinvestmen t_Bank

I personally think it's a brilliant public works concept in the vein of LBJ's Great Society, but the idea of seeking private investment is pretty novel. My issue is that it operates independently from the federal government.

The fact of the matter is the US is in need of some serious infrastructure adjustment. Transportation-wise, we are so far behind compared to Europe. Energy-wise, the grid system in the US is pathetic. Municipalities have more control over it and the system is susceptible to cyber-warfare--by DHS own admission. It's not clean, it's not efficient. It needs to be fixed.

Thoughts?

[perceptrons]

I'd heard bits and pieces of this, and it all sounded awesome, I'm just wondering how well it could be executed.

[mrperson13]

Interesting, I hadn't heard of this until now.

On paper it looks a like a great idea and the type of thing that this country should be doing, but I have a feeling that republicans would fight hard against something like this just like they are with health care, and probably just claim it as another example of Obama's attempts to turn this country into Communist Russia. The fact that private investment plays such a huge role in the plan may get him some support from some of the more moderate/intelligent/fiscal conservatives, but I can't see the core base going for this. I feel like something this ambitious really needs to be done with strong bi-partisan support.

I also share your concern about it being operated independently from the federal government, definitely allows for the possibility of this bank being run by people who are more concerned with using it for corporate interests rather than the well being of the country.

We'll see though.

[saysmydoctor]

Interesting, I hadn't heard of this until now.

On paper it looks a like a great idea and the type of thing that this country should be doing, but I have a feeling that republicans would fight hard against something like this just like they are with health care, and probably just claim it as another example of Obama's attempts to turn this country into Communist Russia. The fact that private investment plays such a huge role in the plan may get him some support from some of the more moderate/intelligent/fiscal conservatives, but I can't see the core base going for this. I feel like something this ambitious really needs to be done with strong bi-partisan support.

I also share your concern about it being operated independently from the federal government, definitely allows for the possibility of this bank being run by people who are more concerned with using it for corporate interests rather than the well being of the country.

We'll see though.
Precisely my concern.

[open mind]

i'm for this but it might be to little to late even if it runs perfectly.

[mrperson13]

Anyone else have thoughts on the issue? I think its a pretty interesting topic...I'd like to see if anyone out there thinks this is a bad idea.

[MyNameIsRoss]

yeah. I read that most our waterlines are 200 years old which is why we have a lot of boilorders and water-main breaks.