The failed conservative policies of the last three decades were sold to us under the false premise that all would be nirvana if only the wealthy were given tax cuts they didn't need. In fact, the conservative movement said that so much money would come rolling back into the government coffers from economic growth, that the tax cuts would basically "pay for themselves."

This fallacy has been totally disproven under three different Republican Presidents, each of whom ran bigger defecits than the last, even with a Republican Congress. The conservative movement sold an economic theory that promised something for nothing. And it, surprise, surprise, didn't work as the textbooks said it should have worked. Infrastructure needs to be repaired, maintained and in many cases expanded. And, it needs to be paid for.

With so much need in so many areas, I really hope there is someone up there who will advocate for transit and railways. The one thing that gives me hope is that Obama is an urban President from urban America. The last administration held cities and the people in them with contempt. If any President in recent history knows the value of a quality transit system it is this President-elect. Let's hope he remembers that.

"This kind of stimulus would be consistent with Obama’s campaign, which was all about bringing Americans together in new ways. It would help maintain the social capital that’s about to be decimated by the economic downturn.

But alas, there’s no evidence so far that the Obama infrastructure plan is attached to any larger social vision. In fact, there is a real danger that the plan will retard innovation and entrench the past.

In a stimulus plan, the first job is to get money out the door quickly. That means you avoid anything that might require planning and creativity. You avoid anything that might require careful implementation or novel approaches. The quickest thing to do is simply throw money at things that already exist."

I don't agree with everything Brooks says, but he makes a good point about how it's often easier - especially in trying times - to throw money at things that already exist: Roads, bridges, existing transportation options.

There should be investment in other forms of transit--absolutely. But bridges and roads need fixing.

we should all just be quiet until Obama finalizes his plans for what he has in store for us. if we behave, maybe we'll get some funding.

everyone needs to calm down.