FIXED
War Steals Money
Needed for Roads

Given the amount of time needed these days to navigate potholes and frost heaves, I have been giving some thought to our nation’s infrastructure. It is abundantly clear that investment in our roads and bridges is badly needed. Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer funds to help towns deal with these needs. 

On a state level, Governor Douglas has proposed less money to towns for bridge repair. On a national level, we used to have a program started during the Nixon years called "Revenue Sharing" in which federal funds were given to local communities for locally determined projects. This program was eliminated during the Reagan administration and money redirected to the military budget.

Today the Iraq war is costing $12 billion a month and the total cost estimated at over $3 trillion. While we squander our resources and future in this misconceived and poorly-planned war, our own roads and bridges are underfunded and oft go unrepaired.

Either we elect people to change the course or we will continue to see our transportation system, so fundamental to the strength of the country, deteriorate as funds needed at home continue to flow to Iraq.

On the other hand, if we keep electing people wedded to current policies, we probably will not be able to afford the cost of gas to drive and it won't make much difference what shape the roads are in.

John Freitag

South Strafford