America's Road Woes: the Free Market Fix (Incomplete)
Nick Reardon
Dr. Brandon Gramer
English 122-024RL
Essay 2, Final Draft; 3,596 Words; 13 May 2013
America’s Road Woes: The Free-Market Fix
Among the most pervasive issues that continue to plague American society is deteriorating infrastructure standards. Once regarded as the hallmark of a financially stable nation, infrastructure construction and maintenance has recently experienced persistent periods of financial neglect.. Everything ranging from bridge inspections to waste management has shared the brunt of this trend. However, the most widely affecting facet of infrastructure, if based on nothing other than usage rates, is roads. According to 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure provided by the American Society of Civil Engineers—which conducts grade-based reviews on infrastructure standards every four years—the national average infrastructure rating was a meager D+; Roads, specifically, were rated even lower at a D. Most mainstream voices tend to suggest that the only solution is to acquire more funding; this, however, is a moot point considering the extent of time, effort and political leverage necessary to influence change under the current system. Instead, a more appropriate solution would require a broader examination of the market structure as a whole. As global markets continue to perform abysmally and legislators struggle to meet basic budgetary duties, the time has come to reconsider the entirety of government’s role in infrastructure.
Historically, significant reductions in government influence on markets have produced higher quality goods and services and greater overall living standards. Beginning with the market reforms of 18th century England, and culminating with the American experiment in constitutionally limited government, much of the global economic progress achieved over the past three centuries was a direct result of the decline of government control and regulatory powers over markets. Private companies seeking a profit from
Dr. Brandon Gramer
English 122-024RL
Essay 2, Final Draft; 3,596 Words; 13 May 2013
America’s Road Woes: The Free-Market Fix
Among the most pervasive issues that continue to plague American society is deteriorating infrastructure standards. Once regarded as the hallmark of a financially stable nation, infrastructure construction and maintenance has recently experienced persistent periods of financial neglect.. Everything ranging from bridge inspections to waste management has shared the brunt of this trend. However, the most widely affecting facet of infrastructure, if based on nothing other than usage rates, is roads. According to 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure provided by the American Society of Civil Engineers—which conducts grade-based reviews on infrastructure standards every four years—the national average infrastructure rating was a meager D+; Roads, specifically, were rated even lower at a D. Most mainstream voices tend to suggest that the only solution is to acquire more funding; this, however, is a moot point considering the extent of time, effort and political leverage necessary to influence change under the current system. Instead, a more appropriate solution would require a broader examination of the market structure as a whole. As global markets continue to perform abysmally and legislators struggle to meet basic budgetary duties, the time has come to reconsider the entirety of government’s role in infrastructure.
Historically, significant reductions in government influence on markets have produced higher quality goods and services and greater overall living standards. Beginning with the market reforms of 18th century England, and culminating with the American experiment in constitutionally limited government, much of the global economic progress achieved over the past three centuries was a direct result of the decline of government control and regulatory powers over markets. Private companies seeking a profit from