Mike Luckovich for April 25, 2021

Infrastructure changes as technologies and societies evolve.

Infrastructure is whatever keeps enhances our ability to be productive and allows civilizations to advance.

There was a time when railroads were a “newfangled notion” — a plaything for the rich, hardly a thing of necessary infrastructure. But as transportation allowed mobility for people and the movement of goods in commerce, railroads became the new foundation of infrastructure. And now railroads also need to be advanced into high-speed bullet trains to keep American competitive with the technologies advancing in China, Japan and Europe.

There was a time when paved roads across the open lands between cities, previously traversed by horse and later by the railroads that had blossomed into foundational infrastructure, were a luxury for the few rich who could afford those “newfangled horseless carriages.” But as automobiles got produced by workers paid well enough to afford to buy the products they produced, and automobiles became a thing of the working people, increased mobility between cities became part of everyday life, and roads, too, were added to essential infrastructure, not only for the mobility of drivers, but for a burgeoning trucking industry, and the Interstate Highway System and bridges became important infrastructure.

And yes, as per the point made in Mike’s excellent ’toon, INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES WATER. There are alternatives to coal and oil. For the plastics made from oil, anything made out of plastic can be made out of hemp (which is also biodegradable). But THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO WATER. The idea that getting water into homes is not infrastructure, especially after what we saw happen in Flint, Michigan (and also other places that always seem to hit at minority communities), defies the ability to understand even the most cruel, narrowly-focused extent of extremism.

Define “dangerous flood that will kill us all”…

When more of the crumbling infrastructure results in loss of life and property, including severe adverse effects on the economy, at least we know that the the GOPQ’s thoughts and prayers will be there.

They seem incapable of understanding that prevention is the best way to save tax dollars. Then again there are so many aspects of our society that are reactive only.

Infracture takes money out of big donors pockets. That is the only reason that Republicans fight infrastructure spending. It’s the money, that normally comes back to them.

The GOP ignores a lot of things, to their own peril.

Ignore it if you want but it will not likely ignore you.

The liberals ignore the Q-inspired GOP at their own peril!

The truth of the matter is the red caps don’t want anything to pass that makes Biden look good. Refer to Obama administration

A friend once said that, by so much of Germany and Japan having to be rebuilt with new technologies after the U.S. and allies destroyed the old ones in WWII, our former enemies gained competitive manufacturing edges as companies in the U.S. refused to spend the needed funds to upgrade. Now the U.S. is facing another such challenge with an outmoded power grid, crappy Internet access for those outside cities, aging sewage treatment plants, etc.

"In"frastructure would be on the inside.. this is obviously "out"frastucture and Moscow Mitch is correct to ignore it.

Hey, the Dutch always have a plan to deal with floods. Not so much the USA.

no ones going to drown from a lack of broadband. .. its a luxury. . .. .but the whole “infrastructure” bill should be dropped except for the increased taxes on the rich

That little racist fascist boy that couldn’t.

Because there’s only lower middle class and lower classes down stream…

It’s irrational that as the population density continually grows and the distinction between the needs of “rural” and city fades — as metro areas expand (with the help of the religiously intolerant anti-abortion/anti-birth-control factions) — that issues like mass-transit, public education, healthcare, childcare, etc are NOT considered as essential infrastructure. Most of us have realized that we must work diligently/cooperatively with others to have nice things rather than procrastinating/obstructing and desperately seeking help from supernational sources.

GQPs will only accept an “Infrastructure Week” if it comes from Trump… and he’s going to announce it “in two weeks” any time now…

The GOP response to any emergency; “Never put off until tomorrow that which can be put off until the day after tomorrow – or even longer. It will disappear – like a miracle.” Or, “We have a plan; details in two weeks.” Or, “What emergency?”

To many republicans, infrastructure means “NRA” which is part of the NRC. Nothing else counts.

What we need is an Internet version of the US Mail, Rural Electrification Administration, and federal highway system. In the 19th Century the US government brot paper mail to every residence in America, regardless of how remote. In the 20th Century it provided roadways to everywhere (almost all public), electricity where needed (public-private partnership), and virtually universal telephone service (all private). Now we need to do the same with the 21st Century equivalent necessity of modern life.

Self-important Senator Manchin D-WV has just added another state to my increasing list of states whose products/services I boycott.

https://www.aol.com/finance/key-u-senate-democrat-favors-143452061-180803807.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/politics/manchin-house-gun-bills-democrats/index.html

He’s YET another empty-suit example of “Me, Me, Look at Me! I’m a leader! You must pay attention to me!”

NO WE DON’T, SLICK!!!

The GQP definition of “Infrastructure” is:

“Something that puts Money in GQP Pockets.”

I applaud Biden for attempting to get his infrastructure plans thru the Senate. They may be over stated, shocking and a bit bloated, but under stating anything today is at our own peril. WHY the stubborn Repubs can not understand this is beyond me. Perhaps they enjoy having to ride on bumpy roads and not having 5G on their phones. We do NOT need another I-35 disaster! Please…look past your own noses to the near future. Constant repairing at this half-ass rate is not gaining anything. There are major fixes that need doing. Please…get with it! Other countries seem quite capable, what’s the matter here? Oh! Yah…I forgot. Ignorant, blind and deaf Repubs! Nothing frustrates me more than supposedly intelligent people who attempt to fix things by doing nothing.

I am not as educated on these subjects as some of you seem to be. I am just speaking from what I feel and experience daily. We seem to be NOT stepping into the future with all the interest and unselfish planning there should be. What a shame and what a waste of a good society.

To quote Dr. McCoy: ’I’d give real money if he’d shut up." (Referring to a certain troll.)