Editor: Infrastructure
The buzz word of the post finance-as-real-industry economy is “infrastructure.” Over a period of 25 years our economy morphed from one in which people made things they could eat, sit on, drive, or wear into one in which some people got really, really, really rich counting and betting on future money, while a lot of the rest of us earned a living servicing each other in government, schools, hospitals, and prisons. I knew this bogus economy couldn’t last.
So when the “Fed” has lowered interest rates to 0% above prime to stimulate the economy and there is nothing left in the tool chest, before double digit unemployment and deflation hit, we are discussing government spending on infrastructure to make jobs and fix what’s broken. Put people to work repairing bridges and crumbling schools, bringing train travel and internet service up to European standards, protecting and improving water supplies, updating the grid so that if it snows in winter, a million people in Kentucky aren’t without electricity for 2 weeks.
To me the most important infrastructure is people. The foundation of a strong nation is built upon the people who live there. They must be educated. They must understand their government. They must know how to learn. They must have a critical awareness of the world. We heard that spending on education would be protected in these hard times, even increased.
On a cold Saturday headed to the annual Legislative Breakfast, co-sponsored by our Western Region PTA, the Erie County Association of School Boards, the League of Women Voters, and school administrators, NPR reported that a large chunk of the education piece had been excised from the stimulus package in front of the US Senate. Apparently supporting human infrastructure by fixing crumbling schools is not that important a part of a stimulus package.
GM, obliged to present a plan to restructure to qualify for a zillion dollars from the US government to avoid bankruptcy, will probably fire 20,000 US workers and another 27,000 around the world. What are we getting for our money? CEO bonuses and shareholder dividends? The fired rank and file (and the laid-off non-GM folks who make the parts) will join those in need of health care coverage. They will not be sending their kids to college. They will not be paying income taxes. They will certainly not be supporting GM since they will be keeping their cars on the road for 15 years. We just hope they will not be forced to live in their cars like some neighbors we have heard about.
I took Amtrak to the LegEd Conference in Albany. I was so happy to be on a comfortable train in America and I was so angry when I got off. For most of the trip, there is one track and passenger trains get to wait while freight trains pass them. I missed the first session of the meeting. In Europe, the trains run on time. That’s what good infrastructure gets you.
Advocacy for children and education will be very hard this year, with the stresses the economy places on our resources. PTA and our school board, teacher, and library allies have a long row to hoe. It has always been a daunting task to pursue our issues. This year will be a particular challenge. We must stand together and keep our eyes on the prize. PTA power!
(From The Beacon, the newsletter of Western Region PTA. Copyright 2009. Reproduce with permission and attribution not for profit.)
