When I think what made this country great I think of a couple things.
1) transcontinental railroad
2) interstate system.
It comes down to having infrastructure that promotes trade. Panama is supported almost entirely on the canal. We should encourage any and all infrastructure that improves trade. Thats my take on it whats yours?
2007-09-17 08:12:07 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Making transportation easier with in the country is great but making a highway to make it easier to ship your jobs in Mexico, materials from Canada and buyers in US will hurt the economy in the US.
As a Canadian it will just benefit us selling our surplus material especially with our current dollar but having a weaken American economy will effect us more in the long run.
2007-09-17 08:22:04 · answer #1 · answered by Edge Caliber 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The interstate has been a great boon to the economy over the years. Contrary to what another poster said, it was not built soley for defense. Certainly that was a factor, but hardly the only one.
Not sure what you mean by superhighways. You mean in addition to our current interstates? Not sure what difference it makes if an 18 wheeler is rolling down a "superhighway" or interstate at 60 mph.
If a good case can be made for a "superhighway" to help the flow of goods across the nation, at a reasonable price, I'd support the Federal gov't building it.
2007-09-17 09:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The transcontinental railroad was somewhat of a failure. While it did work, by the time it was fully implemented roads were about to be built. The system was soon antiquated; in the end I consider the rush to build it a waste of money. Obviously, highways are more useful and are still in existence. I imagine they won't become obsolete until travel via airspace is possible for the average person (a long time away).
You're right: promoting trade will 99% of the time benefit people; trade is an essential part of advancing civilization.
2007-09-17 08:26:36 · answer #3 · answered by Pfo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Interstate Highway system was not built for the purposes of commerce, although that is also a good reason, but for national defense. President Eisenhower started it because he realized that moving large amounts of men and material from one coast to another or from one border to another was a logistical nightmare. To insure the rapid movement of the instruments of war, he began the interstate highway system.
It was also designed to provide emergency runways for military aircraft in the event that our air bases were attacked and unusable. That is why they were designed with so much wide, straight sections with no aerial obstructions.
A lot of people probably don't realize that. In fact the actual name for it is the "Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways".
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2007-09-17 08:26:02 · answer #4 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Considering the worn condition of our interstate system, I would support a few superhighway lines to help keep trucks off the interstate system as much as possible. They could engineer them better now, to put up with the capacity and weight.
2007-09-17 08:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by Chef 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
1. Don't we have interstate system already?
2. Who is going to pay for it? Railroad obviously is private, so it's OK and it's good... Superhighways sounds like either federal or most likely State expense. I wouldn't want to pay for something that compliments corporations. But if it's privatized, it's OK
2007-09-17 08:16:19 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Beef Stroganoff 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A function mass transit system would do wonders a reducing the fuel used by passenger cars. But if we really want to save fuel, we need to start look at commercial vehicles. They consume 75% of the fuel purchase with nearly 25% of that used by aircraft.
2007-09-17 08:19:23 · answer #7 · answered by Holy Cow! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
True but don't forget the strong arming and removal of people from their land to create both of these systems.
And we all ready pay taxes to improve the roads in the form of a gasoline Tax!! Just because governments decide to spend this tax on other things , doesn't give them the right to tax us even more!!
2007-09-17 08:18:27 · answer #8 · answered by TyranusXX 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The crumbling infrastructure or the one that will replace it whenever we find the money to do so.
2007-09-17 08:19:05 · answer #9 · answered by Ben 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything that makes it easier to evacuate is good. That way FEMA won't have any excuses for not getting its job done on time.
2007-09-17 08:17:15 · answer #10 · answered by Estrella E 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋