The Infrastructure Bill and The Problem with “Politicians”

I believe that just like many Americans, I have been watching the drama in DC surrounding the current infrastructure bill and have one question, why? I know my roads are full of potholes, I know that my bridges are crumbling, I know that watermains are bursting around me, I know the power grid is old. To us its just that simple, we pay taxes and expect for government services to be maintained, but here in lies the problem. That is a narrow view of infrastructure, and this is the view that is being seen by too many elected officials in Washington. Not wanting to understand that infrastructure is so much more than just roads, water and power.

This bill has far reaching impacts on the lives of every American, rich or poor. We can create good jobs by making an investment in renewable energy sources. Expanding Medicare means that retired people don’t have to decide between medication and food. By giving parents the opportunity to have that childcare credit we open-up more opportunities for them to seek out good childcare options, better food choices and better schooling. We will bring up the next generation of Americans to really believe in those ideals of what America stands for and not just for the select few that can afford it. During Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” in 1963, he made a statement, “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.” “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds’” Today, the truth in this statement has not changed, just the people have. It is not just for people of color anymore, it is all people, based on their socioeconomic status.

With this debate, there is one person that really comes to mind, Senator Joe Manchin. Senator Manchin has decided to make a stand, to stand against the bill because he doesn’t like some of the language in the bill, specifically some of the parts about funding the bill, but here is the issue Senator Manchin. THERE ARE NO BILLONIARES IN WEST VIRGINA. So, who are you standing up for, your constituents or the big corporations funding you? By doing this you are telling the country that you are more inline with the super-rich than the people who elected you to represent their best interests.

This entire episode with this bill has made the problem with politicians very hard to ignore. They will always place profits over people, and when there are politicians that place people over profits they are attacked, simply because. Every person that has been elected has always been elected on the premise of “for the people”. However, far too often once they are elected, they go from representing the people to representing themselves which almost always means representing profits. These profits come big companies that load their campaigns up with cash and provide kickbacks, in exchange for these politicians voting in the companies’ best interest. Doing this means they are no longer doing the will of the people that elected them.

I do not claim to know all the ins and out of the bill because I do not, but what I do know is that this will benefit all Americans. It is a simple problem being made complicated, it will be paid for by folks who are not paying anything and will benefit all Americans. Do not for one second believe that an improved road and rail network would not benefit Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Do not think that cheaper renewable energy sources and improvements to the power grid would not make it cheaper to power their warehouses and factories and make the electric vehicle more accessible. It would allow our BIG 3 auto makers to be more competitive in that market, growing American jobs. Jobs would be created by building the power grid to support the renewable energy. Being able to automate strenuous factory and warehouse labor, saving our healthcare system billions of dollars and improving the quality of life for our citizens. Jobs will be created by fixing the roads, bridges and water systems. Jobs will be created in the technology sector and maintaining of these systems.

America has to take the lead in something besides death from gunfire, why not this. Our enemy is not advancement and it is inevitable, the faster we embrace it the quicker we can advance our country.