Let’s talk civic infrastructure. (I’m limiting my comments to the US situation, even as similar opportunities exist in many countries.)
Imagine you’re on a presidential task force to prioritize infrastructure opportunities which best help business growth, citizen health and opportunity, and strategic advantage. You get to explore public+private options which also create jobs. What would be on your list? Which are the highest ROI, most enabling opportunities and could not be accomplished with private-only, bottom-up, local efforts?
I have a short list:
- Inexpensive, abundant, ubiquitous electricity – with a hardened, robust transmission system
- Retrofitted water, sewer, and water treatment (we lose something like 20% of piped water because of old leaky pipes in some metro areas)
- Repaired roads and bridges
- Ubiquitous broadband for all citizens
So many desirable things become derivative possibilities as these come into effect. Electricity is simply fundamental. We need more, and our patchwork grid is long-overdue for an upgrade. Civilization and health depend on sewage treatment and access to clean water. Not everything can be digital, and good roads and bridges facilitate moving people and physical materials safely. Ubiquitous broadband opens all kinds of business, schooling, and tele-doc opportunities in every physical location.
All construction jobs are temporary, project based, but these are massive projects in a thousand locations, so the government-facilitated investment would create many excellent jobs for several years. It’s healthier for government investment to flow through jobs rather than direct payments to unemployed people.
Now, counterpoint to top-down efforts.
I’m long on people but hold short positions on government and bureaucracy. Here is a test I use: when politicians and bureaucrats use the word “people” do they like the idea of people, or actual individuals? Are “people” an abstract means to power and authority? Also, there are inherent limits to the lasting ability to shape behaviors in positive ways from the top-down because it’s almost always threats and incentivizing on unsustainable dimensions.
There are a few achievements we can only accomplish as big comprehensive efforts. Everything else of value is best accomplished bottom-up, beginning with the opportunities in our immediate families and neighborhood and community groups.
My great aunt Martha Gen used to say “What hast thou in thy hand?” when a question came up about how to accomplish something. She was citing the Exodus story where God empowers Moses to use his staff.
We can fret anxiously about all the problems in the world. We can say “Someone should do something about that!” and go back to watching Netflix. Or we can challenge ourselves to do what we can, where we are, with what we have, together, right now. Everyone reading this has someone in their sphere of influence who need help that you can provide. Think and serve locally. Let love and energy and skill and experience flow through you to individuals and neighbors.
