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U.S. Infrastructure

Jeff Schultz

We are facing a conundrum as our national infrastructure erodes and environmental degradation continues. I am torn mentally to bits when I read reports and studies concerning dams and their overall detrimental effect on the environment.

Of the 79,000 dams in the U.S., over 3,000 have been labeled unsafe and past due for repairs and reconstruction. Decommissioning these dams and opening waterways to their once natural flow has been proven to rehabilitate once infertile water throughfares.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the significance of hydro power and I have worked with it in the past. They have their place in the grand scheme of things, but at what cost to the overall ecosystem surrounding the watershed?

As a student of Environmental Politics and Policies in the late 80's and early 90's when "pollution" credits were in vogue, I was worried where these policies were taking us as a nation. Looking back my fears are being realized every morning when I open up the morning laptop and peruse the news.

I have come to the conclusion that a Citizens Watchdog Coalition dedicated to accessing environmental policy and procedures concerning waterway ecosystems and the overall protection of one of our most valuable resources should be formed.

Exit strategies and policies for decommissioning and restoration are limited and vague. Since "credits" seem to be the "in" thing now. Why don't we start issuing decommissioning and environmental restoration credits on a more frequent basis. It seems to me that everything else is taking a "back seat" to oil and energy policy and standards.

Citizens need to coallesce into a fighting unit and let the big boys know that Joe Blow can only take so much. This country is being run into the ground, quite literally. It is our welfare and we should and must have control over our future.

Thanks for listening and I welcome your feedback.

 

            Che G.

‹ Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Submitted by Jeff Schultz on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 17:03.

ctyankee
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

Artie Johnson sad it best: "Verrry interrresting!"


Mon, 02/11/2008 - 09:19

Jeff Schultz
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

Ok Paul I am going to post, since no one else seems to feel the need to share thoughts or ideas. I would like to however change it up just a smidge. I would like to play the role of Economic Minister with 100 billion at my disposal. I realize this would only scratch the surface but lets use this number none the less.

1. 5 for improvement to existing roadways, we have enough and I see no need to create more "dead zones", land cut into pieces by roads they are unsuitable for animal habitat.

2. 5 also, for maintainance and development for centralized usage ie: freight, rail, water and air.

3. 8 for upkeep and upgrades for existing systems.

4. 15 as this is the future of our society as I see it. R&D, liberal grants to private citizens with proven technologies for development purposes.

5. 8 for upgrades  to facilitate more efficient means of transmission.

6. 5 for efficient distribution and centralized storage facilities.

7. 15 to protect and maintain water quality.

8. 8 for R&D to develop sustainable waste utilization programs.

9. 5 for improvement and accessabilty.

10. 5 for upkeep for existing buildings and monies diverted for ecobergs.

11. 10 for free health care system for citizens and upkeep.

12. 10 for public education and programs.

13. 1 for me to pay lobbyists to create and perpetuate an oil based empire so that I may reap the benefits for generations to come!

 

You do realize this is off the cuff and measures roughly how I feel about different issues at hand.

 

 

 


Sun, 02/10/2008 - 15:44

ctyankee
Re: U.S. Infrastructure -- A Survey...

I jotted down a quick list of some "infrastructure" options.  I feel like a city planner... ( I just remembered 'Sim-City - I had it on 5 1/4 floppy disk )  These are some of the options that we as a society have to choose from.

We get more flexibility with some to the choices than with others.  But it's fascinating to look at the decisions that have been make.

Anyone care to rate the relative importance of the items in general terms?  

  1. Roads & Highways ( Interstate, Intrastate, Local )
  2. Transportation Hubs ( Airports, Marine Projects, Freight )
  3. Power Generation ( CONG w/wo CHP )
  4. Energy Harvesting ( Solar, Hydro, Wind, Geothermal, Wave )
  5. Transmission Lines ( AC/DC,  Cu, Al, Steel -or- Super Conductor)
  6. Fuel Distribution ( Gases, Liquids, Solids ) 
  7. Water ( Potable, Fire, Irrigation )
  8. Waste Removal ( Garbage, Trash, Recyclables, Sewer ) 
  9. Data Backbone ( u-Wave, WiFi, Fiber, Cable, TV )
  10. Public Buildings ( Stadiums, Parks, Museums )
  11. Public Service ( Police, Fire, Hospital )
  12. Schools ( Government, Private ) 

Please don't feel obligated to rank all 12.  I might rank "4,9,5" as important to my business today. And wally-world might say "2,1,8,12"...

Thanks for yout input!


Tue, 02/05/2008 - 09:45

athena
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

What you are up against is "Cognitive Dissonance".

This is a human condition in which the cognitive (conscious) brain that controls the input/output gets information that is at odds with what it has learned to be truth (reality) over an entire lifetime. It grounds its facts on titles and the letters before and after the name, the $ in the bank, and lineage, etc..

The subconscious brain, where you get your intuition and inherited genetic benefits from,  knows a different truth (reality) that has been learned over hundreds of generations. 

Unfortunately, the conscious brain controls the dialogue because loss of control is both frightening and dangerous.

Every morning I turn over a new leaf of my calendar and read the day's "Bushism".

Then I say "(choose a name) is the smartest, most powerful man in the (choose - school, city, country, world) - then I add - next to Putin, the Pope, Bin Laden, the Dalie Lama .........

Now use the words - Al Gore, value distortion disorder, environmental sustainability and cognitive dissonance in the same sentence and repeat it 5 times as fast as you can with a mouth full of peanuts. 


Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:06

Jeff Schultz
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

Salted, unsalted, boiled, shelled or with the shell? It is so hard to choose by myself. Please help me!


Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:30

athena
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

 

There's a lot going wrong, and it's not my fault.  It couldn't have been me.  I haven't done anything all day.

 

 


Sun, 01/20/2008 - 18:00

Jeff Schultz
Re: U.S. Infrastructure

Glad to see you get my point. I'm trying to shake the rafters to araise awareness that if we don't make it a point to be heard and recognized we'll end up with empty rhetoric launched into cyberspace with virtually no gain or outcome.

I do what I can, to the point that the Governor of Wisconsins office probably sees my name and their blood pressures notches up a few points. There is a couple of reps who seem to enjoy my encounters with them. I try to stay low key and not go into full blown diatribe, there are times when I have to take a deep breath and explain my position with stalwart resoluteness and a modicum of calmness.


Sun, 01/20/2008 - 18:28