DeFazio on vital job creating transportation infrastructure investment
http://www.youtube.com/...
Uploaded by Peter DeFazio on Sep 13, 2011
(H/T to Thom Hartmann)
Transcription of the "good parts" of this epic Democratic rant, in the extended textbox section, below ...
Peter DeFazio:
[...]
We have a 150,000 bridges that need replacement or repair.
40% of the pavement, needs not just re-surfacing, but underlayment.
$70 Billion backlog on our aged transit system -- and that's just to give us, an updated and state of good-repair 20th-Century transportation infrastructure
-- We need a 21st-Century transportation infrastructure, which is going to require more investment, and for the life of me, I don't get it -- on that side of the aisle, you got this guy over there, the Republican leader Cantor, he says:
'Well we might take the Tax Cuts with Obama.' (Those return almost .80 cents on each Dollar borrowed.) 'But oh that other stuff, Spending Money!'
-- that's like stimulus, building bridges, repairing highways, repairing and building transit systems, having a new 21st-Century system for our planes to navigate more efficiently in the skies, with fewer delays and less fuel consumed -- 'that is Bad!' according to Eric Cantor.
[Cantor:]
'But no, the Tax Cuts, oh yeah were for Tax Cuts. We'll give the people their money back -- and they'll take care of those problems.'
'We'll pass the hat, to rebuild those bridges and transit systems.
We'll pass the hat, to have a ... new aviation system for navigation.'
[Defazio:]
Come on! Are we a Great Nation or what!?
Are we going to give up?
Are we just going to keep pretending:
'Give the money back to the Job Creators.'
-- I haven't seen the Job Creators build a National Highway System lately.
[...]
Millions of Jobs are on the Table, and not just in Construction [...]
Were not going to hemorrhage this money to China -- like the Tax Cuts will.
[...]
The American People get it! We get it on our side of the aisle.
It is time for the leadership on the Republican side of the aisle, to get it too!
Thank you Peter DeFazio, for representing the views of Working America (and out-of-work America) so well.
And so passionately, too.
Bravo! from this proud Oregon resident. Keep speaking the plain truth, sir.
Someday, the truth will prevail ... (karmic forces willing.)