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On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it is important to reflect upon the role that a well functioning infrastructure plays in the economic health of a community. When we look closer at more recent and current events in
Haiti and right now in Pakistan, we can see that when the infrastrucure of a region or county fails, peace and security itself are in jeopardy.
In the case of Kartina miscalculatons and on-going mismanagement have proven that after five years and billiions of dollars of effort and investment, there is still much work to be done.
Haiti never had a functioning infracturcture, so when disaster hit, the counrty was devastated. How long will this take to be rebuilt? If we look at New Orleans after five years, the prospects for Haiti seem dim at best. Still, this is an opportunity for Haiti to start again. With the help of the UN and many foreign countries, this process can begin. Perhaps cultural and political change for the better can result.
The disaster in Pakistan is a threat to security in this area of the world and to US interests there. A land area the size of England is under water! Our Army Reserves should be used for disasters like Haiti and Pakistan. Only something as organized, trained and with the equipment can respond quickly enough and setup 'transitional infrastructures', whether that is roads, hospitals or water sanitation. These are critical. Providing the long-term capital and expertise to re-build is an opportunity for the US, government and business to rise to this challenge.
Which brings us around to our own infrastructure. As was highlighted at the recent America at a Crossroads conference recently held in Harrisburg, investment in our core infrasture is central to restarting our economy. And what was outlined, was not just a vision, but there are practical plans in discusison to pay for this.
Let's keep this discussion going! It is critical to the future of our county and to the world.
Robert Sayre
Editor-in-Chief, President
Empowered Municipality
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