Ten years ago, in one of the country’s most progressive cities, 13 people died in Minneapolis rush hour traffic when the Interstate 35 bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed, falling 115 feet to the water below. The victims were about as close to any cross-section of America you’re likely to find: Somali immigrants, a Mexican father, a young Native American, a Greek folk dancing instructor, a Cambodian native with Down’s syndrome, a white bakery truck driver.
That bridge collapse was the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the country’s infrastructure problems, which have only gotten worse since then.
It’s understandable that candidate Donald Trump’s promise to spend $1 trillion fixing America’s infrastructure resonated with voters.
Now, however, the infrastructure package in President Trump’s budget proposal has been revealed to be a complete sham. And this isn’t just because it’s based on Pollyannaish growth levels of 3 percent.
The budget sets aside only $200 billion for infrastructure over the next decade, which will only make a dent in America’s infrastructure needs.
Meanwhile, the military will receive $639 billion, a wholly misplaced and unnecessary increase.
If “making America great again” were really the objective here, Trump would have set aside money for our country’s roads and bridges.