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The President-Elect's Weekly Virtual Fireside Chat

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 08:55:36 AM EST
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This week's radio address/podcast from the President-Elect:

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    The President-Elect's Weekly Virtual Fireside Chat | 26 comments (26 topical)

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    The infrastructure (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by WS on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 10:19:21 AM EST
    plan includes mass transit.  I hope mass transit get its fair share and comments from Rahm indicate that it will.

    Also includes retrofitting schools and buildings to be energy efficient!  I can't wait to see the details.    

    I am happy to hear this talk. (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by hairspray on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:07:35 PM EST
    The infrastructure has been failing for decades.  In fact, when Bill Clinton arrived in 1993 he planned to do many of the things Obama is now recommending (Locked in the Cabinet by R. Reich) but unfortunately the GOP was in charge of the house and was adamantly opposed to "big government fixes". Just think if we had fixed the bridges in Minnesota or many of the train tracks in the US to say nothing of levees in New Orleans we would have saved a lot of grief and money. This is no time to negotiate with the GOP on these issues.  They have done their damage.

    Maybe The Feds Will Fund... (none / 0) (#13)
    by santarita on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:16:39 PM EST
    projects like the train extension to Dulles and the California fast train between Sf and LA.  That's the kind of infrastructure spending that is forward thinking.

    Parent
    Three Questions on Obama's Proposal (none / 0) (#2)
    by santarita on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 10:30:33 AM EST
    What happens to the workers when the proposed projects are completed.  Or, to put it another way, will this proposal result in a short-lived bubble?

    Existing bridges, roads and highways need repairs and should be repaired but shouldn't he use this opportunity to insure that all repairs to existing infrastructure and any new construction meet certain tests and guidelines?  For example, any new state, county or  city road repair should involve where possible dedicated bike lanes and dedicated mass transit lanes.  

    Obama is going to throw a lot of money around and he who controls the purse has a lot of power.  Why not look at our current infrastructure and make sure that it meets the demands of the future and not just now?

    On Marketplace yesterday (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 10:34:37 AM EST
    a commentator discussed Japan's public works contruction to try and turn around the recession there.  Lots of employment in contruction industry but didn't have the anticipated macro effect.  Commentator sd. after that Japan saved its money instead of spending it in this manner.

    Parent
    In the long run (none / 0) (#5)
    by Molly Bloom on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 11:58:15 AM EST
    But this long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead. Economists set themselves too easy, too useless a task if in tempestuous seasons they can only tell us that when the storm is long past the ocean is flat again.

    John Maynard Keynes

    Parent

    Pithy. (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 12:07:28 PM EST


    Parent
    Pithy (none / 0) (#14)
    by Faust on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:21:02 PM EST
    and correct.

    Parent
    Long ago (none / 0) (#17)
    by zyx on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 02:35:36 PM EST
    LOOOONG ago, I got a BS and an MS in economics. Then I didn't use them, not in careers. But I read about the economy with perhaps more alertness than some folks.

    And maybe more than some folks, I think economists don't know very much. I mean, I really like Paul Krugman, but he got a Nobel Prize for figuring out that countries export cars to each other because consumers like variety? Huh? This is seismic?

    Parent

    Keynes, now that's truly poetic prose wrapped (none / 0) (#25)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sun Dec 07, 2008 at 02:25:37 AM EST
    around wit and wisdom.

    Obama's team of speechwriters (Favreau, Frankel, Rhodes) should put down the JFK and the RFK and the MLK. That oratory was all well and good for the primaries. Now they'd best bone up on their Keynes.

    Parent

    What makes you think they are not? (none / 0) (#4)
    by Molly Bloom on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 11:32:31 AM EST


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    I think this could be a quarter century project (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:07:40 PM EST
    If done correctly, with a keenly focused eye on two things -- repair and employement -- true infrastructure repair and efficiency modernizing and expansion could easily be a decades long undertaking, and who's to say it could not become an invaluable and permanent part of our nation's upkeep.  If we want a fully employed and civilized nation, we can have it.  Overcoming our economic and social paradigms is the only thing holding us back.  We're not talking science here, or praying for rain, or hoping the swallows come back this year or next, it is about we as a people deciding, clearly and consistently, what money exists to do.  Since its value is entirely determined by our beliefs in it, our decision to employ our citizens in mass for the benefit of all is something that will lift the dollar to new heights.  If we choose to have that belief, that is, not only in the dollar but, ultimately, in ourselves.

    FDR had it right: the only thing we have to fear...

    Parent

    Infrastructure Bank (none / 0) (#20)
    by WS on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 03:54:05 PM EST
    Obama's plan includes investment in an Infrastructure Bank that would provide a steady stream of infrastructure funds instead of having to depend on Congressional earmarks.

    On the Japan comment, I would think Japanese infrastructure was in much better condition than ours is in and thus didn't provide as much "bang for the buck" as they would have liked.  

    In our case, improving US infrastructure, that's been neglected for some time, would have much greater efficiency savings, environment improvement (like on mass transit), and an increased source of jobs.    

    Parent

    Maybe They Are (none / 0) (#7)
    by santarita on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 12:14:27 PM EST
    I just haven't heard anything about guidelines or parameters other than funding plans in states that are already on the table and ready to go.

    Funding state projects is (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by oldpro on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 12:35:41 PM EST
    the most immediate jobs-fix.

    States have already done the preliminary work...planning, local permits, design and specifications, SEPA reviews, etc.  All that is lacking is the money to hire employees or let contracts to do the project(s).  Transportation (roads, bridges, ferries) are good examples...they are (in my state) funded with state and federal gas taxes.  That revenue is waaaaay down as use dropped as prices rose.  It's a good and worthwhile immediate fix.

    Parent

    I agree about the most immediate fix and... (none / 0) (#12)
    by santarita on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:13:56 PM EST
    the biggest bang for the buck.  I'd just like to see a little more in terms of guidelines and maybe a little more planning for the future.  Maybe it's there and I'm just not aware of it.

    Parent
    Big Ed (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by jedimom on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 04:53:58 PM EST
    Big Ed Rendell at the GOV conference  (which Obama and Biden attended)..

     Ed indicated they have projects that are SHOVEL READY, all 50 states do, that is the goal for the first stimulus, and then the infrastructure bank I believe would handle future works..

    "shovel ready"-that's just an awesome term-

    my dream: if we did what the engineers in Amsterdam did with that multi billion dollar mechanical dam that protects them from flooding there, if we could fund that down in Nola, well ii would be wunderbar....

    Parent

    lawsuits (none / 0) (#23)
    by bocajeff on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 05:16:54 PM EST
    Yeah, you think that would be easy here? Imagine all the environmental lawsuits not to mention the NIMBY's (see Massachussets wind farm) to get in the way.

    If we just click our heels three times all will be right in the world.

    Parent

    Sounds like some serious (none / 0) (#9)
    by oldpro on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:04:12 PM EST
    overpromising to me...especially regarding the 'schools fix' which will take a long time (perhaps a year or more) to get up and running as a program with projects, even if they go through the states.  Not to mention how many schools there are needing upgrades or replacement.  How to choose?

    Sounds simple alright, but will take some serious planning with guidelines for grants or RFPs.  You can't just give the money to the states for this one...except for the computers (and software).  That could be simple.

    It's a "don't worry, we're on it" speech but there are going to be a lot of disappointed and angry people who won't see this money or these projects as priorities they would have chosen, whatever happens.  They'll need a good PR followup for the next election cycle in 2 years.

    That's politics, tho.

    If we actually manage to turn the recession (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Faust on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 01:23:23 PM EST
    around by 2010 then that will be pretty good PR in and of itself.

    I don't have high hopes for that personally.

    Parent

    Public works (none / 0) (#16)
    by zyx on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 02:31:41 PM EST
    does sound like a lot of jobs for blue-collar workers. And I'm sure a lot of construction workers are out of jobs, what with housing being so dire.

    And I have heard Obama talk about, oh, more intellectual kinds of jobs-things in his speechifying.

    BUT, most jobs are service-related, and most people really don't run highway-building equipment. I know that we need infrastructure upgrading and have for years (on the one hand). But on the OTHER hand, there are a helluva lot of people who are out of work, or underemployed, who will not by much helped by a lot of roads-and-bridges projects.

    I'm only so-so enthusiastic about this.

    the Romans (none / 0) (#22)
    by jedimom on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 04:58:29 PM EST
    well that worked for the Romans! All the old military sites had towns spring up around them to feed clothe entertain the troops..like Hadrians Wall...

    it would do wonders for NOLA

    here in AZ, I have been fighting to keep our local Title I elementary open, the school district has reacted to the drop in prop tax funding by trying to close schools, we have trouble funding our utility bills for our schools here,

    so we just got that passed thru the state legislature, but I am concerned that once Gov Napolitano leaves, our new totally inexperienced totally GOP SoS who is replacing her, will GUT our education budget..

    Anywho these schools are a great candidate for energy retrofit! seriously! it's over 100 degrees here most days!

    Parent

    Not just blue-collar (none / 0) (#26)
    by CST on Mon Dec 08, 2008 at 10:36:07 AM EST
    There are a lot of engineers, lawyers, etc... that also get employed by public works projects, not to mention the marketing and administrative people that also work for the companies.  There is a lot more to building roads than pouring asphalt.  I would say there are probably more white-collar jobs provided by these projects than blue-collar, but in general it's a pretty decent mix.

    Parent
    Not to mention (none / 0) (#27)
    by CST on Mon Dec 08, 2008 at 11:36:43 AM EST
    A good infrastructure helps everyone.  Bridges in good repair won't fall down.  Better transit will help people who can't afford to drive, it will increase business opportunities, and hopefully change the landscape of the country for the better.

    Parent
    It feels like... (none / 0) (#18)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 03:53:20 PM EST
    some Masterpiece Theater pre WW1 series.  We all sit around remnants of the "ancien regime" while the world is about to make some cosmic turn, twist or dare I say change.  No one knows what the outcome will be, but then we never do.  But we all did get sort of comfortable with the world order of the last 50 years.  

    hmm... does he sound a little (none / 0) (#24)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 09:11:05 PM EST
    like Rod Serling?

    The President-Elect's Weekly Virtual Fireside Chat | 26 comments (26 topical)

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