Monthly Archives: February 2023

Time and Infrastructure

My mother used to say to me, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. I never thought much about that then but as I grew older it made sense. Be patient because everything takes time nothing is done instantaneously. Rome, built on seven hills, took a very long time to come together. No matter what you do will take time to do it, especially when you do it correctly.

               The other day, as I was watching the news, a comment was made that the President always talk about rebuilding the infrastructure but there is nothing to show for it. It was said the President does not uphold his promises and we should not trust anything he says. It was also said that the person-in-charge of the Department of Transportation was also at fault.

               I will give you a little lesson about our highway system (this is only one out of many projects concerning infrastructure). Many years ago, I read a road marker, I forget which state I was in, that talked about President D.D. Eisenhower and how he developed the highway system. When he was a newly minted Lieutenant in the army he had to drive from New York to California. What road there was was rutted and narrow. It took many days to get where he was going, and he swore that someday he will make better roads. When he became President in the 1950s, he did just that.

               To fix the aging infrastructure will take a long time to do. Let me mention a few things that will slow that rebuilding of any part of the infrastructure. First and foremost are the permits before anything can start. Plans have to be drawn, inspections have to be made, contracts have to be written and signed. Just that part mentioned can take months to do. If all that have been mentioned goes smoothly, the work can begin and, depending on the size of the project, will take time to do it safely and right.

               If the project is a new build, then there are other problems. Environmental agencies must give their approval, hearings have to be held, groups for and against have to be appeased, hearings are held again because of the changes to the original concept. After all of that then you start with drawing detailed plans, written contracts, etc.

               The Romans built many great roads and bridges and most of them still stand today, and a few are still being used. The Romans did not wave a magic wand and their projects instantly appeared. It took a long time to accomplish those things that were built thousands of years ago. The Romans had many projects, very little red tape, yet it took a long time for each project.

               I said all of that to say this. Give the infrastructure plans some time. The ball is rolling but it will take time to see it. Many people, that are against the President or the Democrat Party, will always say bad things about the infrastructure bill without proof of anything. Remember, Rome was not built in a day, nether was our deteriorating infrastructure, and completing the plans in the infrastructure bill will take time.

As Seen On

As I look at television and other media, I seriously thought about what can be done, and the cause, about gun violence and police brutality in our nation today. It seems that these things are much too far out of hand. There seem to be no end to the daily headlines of all sorts of incidents. And when I look closer, I find most of the incidents come from younger people. Then I had a thought that I had some years ago and, to me, it makes sense.

               Most young people have long ago disconnected from the real world and is, instead, connected to artificial entertainment. They watch too much of what is on their phones and video games are supreme. Sci-fi and scary movies rule and regular television and the news are out.

               The other day, while talking to two of my granddaughters, I asked them about the police brutality/murder in Memphis. They looked at me like I was crazy and said they have not heard anything about it. I was amazed because it had happened almost two weeks prior and that was on all the news networks, talk shows, and printed matter. I then wanted to slap myself because it dawned on me that it was not on their outlets like tic-toc, etc.

               This is what my mind see that have caused the police brutality and other shootings everywhere. Most young people and some adults are into video games and many play them daily. I am not against these games as entertainment, but some cannot separate real from fantasy. Some minds are either weak or still developing and that leads to a problem. Believe it or not, some think they can do what they see in a video or avatar.

               These people that think they can do whatever without consequence also do not fully understand death. When it comes to children, ask yourself if they really understand that in death they cannot come back tomorrow and play that scene again. Do they understand that the man acting macho is only an actor and it is not real. Do they understand that pointing a gun at someone, pulling the trigger will ruin their life forever.

               When it comes to some police officers (done that, been there), there are some that is full tilt macho, and you cannot tell them otherwise. They act as the supreme lord of all people and can do whatever. When I first heard about the beating the police gave, I thought about the television series “Chicago PD’. There are other television series, as well as movies, that some officers attempt to imitate.

               I do not know how to squelch this problem, but I believe that the major cause of the problem are the movies and videos that immature humanoids watch. Once they get started down the wrong road it is hard for them to get on the right road. And let us not forget the gangs and gang members that can be included in the causes that make up the police brutality cause.

               We cannot turn off all televisions, videos, and other forms of media but I am hoping we can find a way to limit it and closely monitor the individuals that does nothing but involve themselves into this form of communication.