By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Greg Mankiw does the math on Obama's stimulus plan.
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Denise Tiller, Midwest
Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008 Panelist
Like your column from early 2008 where you predicted the worst of the financial crisis was over and the economy would be just dandy, you've taken a very over-simplistic view of the stimulus package. The point is fix the infrastructure of the United States, not just pay people money, and there is a cost to that. You have to pay for materials.
Let's look at Missouri. According to the Star, the State has over 800 dangerous bridges that it can't afford to repair. Kansas City needs a new sewer system. And can we talk about the state of Missouri roads? Or the schools that need repair and updating?
Just think about what an influx of money could do for Missouri? Are you really arguing against fixing antiquated infrastructure?
I used to live about 50 miles from New York City, and the infrastructure is even older and more primitive there. It wasn't just roads, there were electricity, phone service, and drinking water issues. If you take the time to travel outside of Kansas City, you'll find examples of crumbling roads and bridges.
We can't afford to let the country go to pot.
My father-in-law survived the depression of the 1930s working on the Civilian Conservation Corps. He's proud and happy that he did it. You probably think that was all some crazy socialist garbage, but you didn't have to feed a family during the Great Depression.
Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008 Panelist
Fixing infrastructure will
Fixing infrastructure will not ensure long term economic growth. That is not to say the infrastructure does not need repairs, but for years the state of Missouri and Kansas City have chosen not to invest money in these areas. Governments at all levels make choices and in my mind they reward those sectors of society that will get them elected.
If you want sewers brideges and roads repaired cut spending in other areas, allocate the dollars to infrastructure and fix the infrastucture. We can not afford everything, although you would not believe that by looking at the government print money today. But the point is we elect officials to priortize the budget and spend our money in the best possible way. Now lets hold them accountable or boot them from office.