Democrats

Are We Exporting Democracy Or Importing Third World Lifestyles?

December 15, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

New York, New York, big city of dreams but everything in New York is not always what it seems. New York is just beginning of what will happen if the Bush Administration does not slow down its Iraq spending. The current cash burn in Iraq is causing neglect to American cities in desperate need of their own reconstruction and rebuilding. The problem in New York is it is not able to keep up with a growing population that places strong demands on an old and aged infrastructure. How can we talk about rebuilding Iraq when our very own cities right here in America are crumbling and decaying and losing their ability to support their population.

The AP has stated that it is estimated that by the year 2030, New York City could have so many people straining its infrastructure that it won’t have enough electricity or housing to meet demand, and rush hour traffic will last all day. The city of 8.2 million people must start planning and building now for the expected growth of 1 million more over the next 25 years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a panel of experts warned. “We now have the freedom to take on the obstacles looming in the city’s future and to begin clearing them away before they become rooted in place,” Bloomberg stated according to the AP.

We need our Governments focus to switch from saving the world to at least saving parts of America. We are so busy bothering in everyone else’s business we are neglecting our own house and if we do not address our own house soon it will become a broken down ramshacked money pit that may be beyond repair. We need to address this issue now before it is too late.

According to the report cited by the AP
• In 25 years, rails and roads will be “crammed beyond capacity” and won’t be able to accommodate the swarm of commuters during what is now considered normal rush hour. Lawmakers must act now to not only expand the road network but also to update the subway system, which was built starting in 1901 and still uses signal and switch technology developed before the 1940s.

• The city will need thousands more housing units. And it has to be affordable — already, more than a third of city renters fork over more than half their income for rent, the group said.

• Energy demand could exceed supply by as early as 2012, and by 2030 the majority of the city’s power plants will be more than 50 years old. The city needs to improve efficiency, use alternative energy sources and modernize its grid, which was built in the 1920s.

So while President Bush worries about Iraq New York and many other cities like New York are falling into disarray. How can we be so neglectful of our own cities when we live right here in America? Iraq and Afghanistan are not paying our tax dollars but New York is. Why is New York receiving less assistance in infrastructure support than Iraq is? New York pays in so they should be first to get out, Iraq pays nothing in taxes and should only get what’s left. It’s crazy that an American city goes without while hundreds of cities in the Middle East receive tax dollars paid for by the very cities being neglected.

How can America stay competitive when they are just trying to survive? Are we outsourcing Democracy or importing Third World Lifestyles? Ask yourself honestly and take a good look around, you may be surprised.

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