Election Issues Today

Deteriorated Infrastructure May Be Key to Recovery

Public Infrastructure in America is in need of repair and the new President-elect appears poised to push forward with an economic recovery plan that will re-build roads, upgrade schools and improve energy efficiency across the country.

Recently I joined with many others in urging Mr. Obama to concentrate his economic recovery efforts on public infrastructure.  In asking his transition team to prepare to expend millions of dollars on infrastructure in the biggest effort since construction of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950’s, the President-elect is focusing his team’s efforts on creating well-paying jobs rather than the “dole” of welfare-like benefits that demean the human spirit.

In addition to roads, there are thousands of bridges in America, many in the rural hinterlands, that are in critical need of upgrade.

Our National Park System, underfunded for reconstruction projects for many years, could also benefit from a new effort to preserve and improve our conservation and recreation lands.

City Parks and other local infrastructure, including streets, sewer systems, pedestrian improvements, and neighborhood lighting projects could all use an infuse of federal dollars that would put people to work.

Not to be overlooked in any comprehensive recovery effort should be some emphasis on TRAINING.  We have a broken apprenticeship program, badly outdated and overcome by technology advances in the past forty years.   Let’s prepare today’s youth for skilled labor and technical jobs by paying them enough to support their families while they train.  A work-school program that puts 50 percent of their time in the classroom or in field training environments could provide long-term benefits for the next generation.

Obama Cabinet Hopefuls Mostly Experienced Insiders

Those who have expressed concerns about Barack Obama’s lack of leadership experience in Washington must feel reassured by the familair faces and names being touted around as potential cabinet secretaries.

Meanwhile, those who hoped for a complete “coup” of the government by outsiders will be disappointed, although there will be some new faces, some black faces, some native american faces, and some female faces to uphold the election campaign themes.

At State, Senator Hilllary Clinton is said to have been offered the job and she is struggling over leaving the Senate.  As a member of the Obama Administration she would not be well-positioned for a challenge run in 2012.

At Defense, the hope is that Obama will offer Robert Gates the opportunity to remain in place, at least for the near term.  That will help Obama in gaining some credibility among the U.S. military hierarchy, where they have perceived him as not being in their corner, so far as maintaining adequate troops to finish the job in Iraq.

Another plus for Obama would be the appointment of retired USMC General Jim Jones as National Security Advisor.  General Jones is a former Commandant of the Marine Corps and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (NATO).

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is being mentioned as Obama’s choice as Homeland Security Secretary.  That would bring at least female into the cabinet, if Hillary Clinton should decline the State job.

At Health and Human Services, former South Dakota Senator and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle is the only name being mentioned.  He appears to be in line for the job.

As Attorney General, Obama has chosen Eric Holder, a former Deputy AG under Janet Reno in the Clinton Administration.  He would become the nation’s first African-American Attorney General.

And, just announced, Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary. Geithner is now the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

There remains a lot of speculation about most of these positions, with only the Tim Geithner, Eric Holder and Tom Daschle appointments seemingly decided upon.

There are also many other positions yet to fill, and the President-designate has a full schedule as he enters the third week of his Transition.