http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/po ... ss&emc=rss

Mr. Obama’s remarks sought to expand the definition of traditional work programs for the middle class, like infrastructure projects to repair roads and bridges, while also pushing a federal effort to bring in new-era jobs in technology and so-called green jobs.

Although he put no price tag on it, he said he would invest record amounts of money in the vast infrastructure program, which also includes work on schools, sewer systems, mass transit, electric grids, dams and other public utilities. He vowed to upgrade computers in schools, expand broadband Internet access, make government buildings more energy efficient and improve information technology at hospitals and doctors’ offices.

“We need action — and action now,” Mr. Obama, said in an address taped for broadcast Saturday morning on radio and YouTube.

The address followed the latest grim economic report indicating that the country lost 533,000 jobs in November alone, bringing the total job loss over the past year to nearly 2 million. Although Mr. Obama remains weeks away from taking office, the report heightened pressure on him to assert leadership before his inauguration.

This kills two birds with one stone. It puts people back to work, and it helps restore our crumbling infrastructure.



Update:

There should be free citywide wireless networks in the top 20 or 30 US cities.

Eisenhower's Interstate System did wonders for the US.

Lets see what this can do?

I'd much rather put that money into infrastructure than give blank checks to businesses that have failed because of their own incompetence.

So well thats his New Deal.....though how is he gonna pay it?

Btw: what are those books behind him?

Fortunately, not the Bible.

Increase total car emissions?

At a glance, they look like legal treatises.

He's going to have to borrow it. Not much choice.

Part of the infrastructure he's building is green energy. Greener cars, greener buildings, and greener power plants. We'll see how it works out but it's a promising start.

I think that "Hospital Network" would be something really great. Hopefully he can do it.

He's definitely moving on health care a lot sooner than I thought he would. I was afraid it was going to be back-burnered when the economy tanked.

But I think the auto-industry offers a very helpful backdrop to both crisis. The wingnutosphere is fond of pointing out how union health care costs are helping drive the auto makers out of business (which isn't actually true, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt). Well the GM CEO testified in front of Congress that eliminating the burden of providing health care for workers would make them more competitive, since Japan and Germany both have universal health care and don't have to pay the same costs.

Well, wingnutosphere, you've just provided a great argument for removing that burden. Why are corporations in the health care business anyway? And why should your health care be tied to your job?

No doubt the interstate system caused urban sprawl however its effect on trade and transportation were massive...


It would have been better if he put some of the funding in public transit as well, however think of that time and remember it was the age of the car and the suburbs.

Law books. I have an oil and gas law book from college other that looks like that as well as a law book that deals with energy and the environment from a global perspective.

http://www.amazon.com/Law-Oil-Gas-Cases ... 353&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Economics- ... 41&sr=1-12

That seems like a good idea. My problem though with large government programs though relates to how they are focused. Communism is supposed to work in theory, but it seems built around the idea that the government will be able to identify the best minds and use them to make the best decisions for society. But of course for anyone there will always end up being things that will be unanticipated. Something new that shifts perceptions about how things could work. So while leaders might be able to eventually do something about it, and recognize what's happening, it might happen too slowly, and it might be prevented from being able to grow as its own entity. It might even die early. So, communism doesn't really work in theory.

I hope the government runs this as well as possible...The internet aspect is the one that I'm certain will be the most important in the long run. The vital question I have though is whether it will provide the full opportunities to the kid out there who has a potentially revolutionary new theory that nobody could know about or believe...just yet.