Infrastructure as Economic Stimulus

Infrastructure is an issue that merits attention. We must re-vamp our electrical distribution infrastructure to accommodate wind and solar power generation. We must establish infrastructure for ethanol -- pipelines, rail cars and truck transport. With hydrogen fuel for automobiles on the horizon, we need to look at establishing an infrastructure to distribute and retail that fuel. Natural gas powered vehicles also need filling stations. Our highways are in need of attention -- especially many of our bridges which are aged. The extreme growth of metropolitan areas such as Austin, Texas, have left a gap in the road system of those cities. We need port terminals for LNG offloading and for receiving oil that hopefully will soon be pumped on the outer continental shelf. We need new rail and high-speed transit facilities. And the list goes on.

Texas currently has a budget surplus created by the growth in the economy and from high oil prices. It needs to go into some form of revolving fund for infrastructure. Now, even some Democrats are "getting it" as far as infrastructure goes. Construction requires workers. Workers spend money. That stimulates business. Business works more efficiently when infrastructure is in place to move energy to where it is needed. It all works together to fuel our economy which generates more taxes -- even at lower rates. Let's stimulate the economy by spending money on infrastructure.

Pipelines for Alaskans

Alaska is a resource treasure trove. It is difficult to access and develop that treasure. The environmental extremists will fight tooth-and-nail for every last inch of the state to remain undeveloped.

Governor Palin is doing what is in the best interest of the people of her state and of this nation by working to develop the necessary infrastructure to gain access to those hard-to-reach resources. I applaud her willingness to face the pressure of the anti-development crowd. I hope that she ensures that the development will be done in a manner that is sensitive to some of the critical habitats that could be affected. It's all about balance.

Aging Infrastructure and Energy Needs

The strength of the U.S. economy is derived from many factors. One of the underlying strengths is our infrastructure. Our system of rails, roads, waterways, municipal services, electrical grids, fuel service stations, markets, irrigation canals and ports is unparalleled in the world. It allows our economy to function smoothly and efficiently.

That infrastructure is showing signs of aging. Part of the problems stemming from Hurricane Katrina and the recent flooding along the Mississippi River are a result of that aging infrastructure. It is something to which we as a country must attend in the coming decades or we will see a gradual decline of our strength.

As we examine that underpinning of our economy, we must consider our wise use of the energy resources at our disposal currently and the development of new energy technologies. If we truly desire to gain energy independence as a country we must lay a forward-thinking plan that will efficiently incorporate new technologies into our vision for revitalizing that infrastructure.

One area of infrastructure that needs close examination is that of energy conservation. By that I mean that roads and rails have profound influence on patterns of housing and business location. Growth of suburban areas create demands for new water, sewer and waste disposal as well as new power distribution systems. As our urban areas sprawl, we create demands on those services that require greater use of energy than if the development was more compact. That sprawl also adds to commute times and distances and thus the need for more roadways. The increased paving of roadways adds to the urban heat pockets which exacerbate the need for cooling during summer months.

Wide-area planning and zoning is a subject that creates difficulty for us true believers in free enterprise. After all, I have no desire for a government authority to come to me and say that I cannot sell my land to a housing developer -- it must remain in agriculture. However, it is something that we must consider as we look to the future and our ability to sustain strong economic growth and yet efficiently use our resources as a country.

The issue of energy independence is closely entangled with our infrastructure issues. It will take great wisdom to see the way to the future -- a future where my grandchildren will, I hope, enjoy the same opportunities that I enjoy today.

Africa Should Be Feeding Itself

The amount of arable land in Africa is sufficient for feeding the people of that continent. According to the FAO, only 14% of Africa's arable land is under cultivation. So, what's the problem?

The first is good governance. Until there is a stable political environment in the various countries on the continent, there can be no long-term effort to alleviate the other issues that are faced.

The second is infrastructure. Much of Africa remains barely accessible by road and rail. Many of the roads are not all-weather surfaces and thus subject to seasonal usage. Grain handling facilities are inadequate. Water resources for irrigation are non-existent. Produce is generally brought to local markets and not easily transported to population centers.

The third is dependence on foreign aid. The problem with the aid is that it has been misdirected. The misdirection takes two forms. One is that corrupt officials sometimes seek to profit from the aid. The second is that it is a band-aid approach -- treating the symptoms and not the causes. The aid needs to be in the form of technical assistance to develop good governance and the necessary infrastructure for the country. It also should be targeted at developing farming technology suitable to local conditions and the necessary systems to move produce to market. Humanitarian aid will be necessary until Africa can feed itself.

The fourth major issue is outside interference. This often takes the form of political pressure from governments seeking access to natural resources such as oil. However, of greater concern to the local people are pressures from environmental and other do-good groups to "preserve" large tracts of land that could be feeding people. There is a need for good conservation measures and the preservation of bio-diversity, however, the needs of the people should be weighed in any measure aimed at soothing the misguided souls who would sacrifice the people of Africa to assuage their feelings of guilt over their Western lifestyle. It is a "we-got-ours" but "you-can't-have-yours" approach.

Africa needs to build on the resources of the continent. Land for agriculture is number one. Instead, many African leaders see a panacea by leap-frogging into a more industrialized economy. They need to capitalize on what they have first and then build from that.

There are many other issues. The above list is merely the beginning.