The U.S. has the largest infraestructure of the World, so it is very expensive to maintain. The most important infraestructure projects, like the Interstate Superhighway (a system based on the experience of Germany and Italy) were undertaken during the 50s and 60s. But the U.S. is so much dominated by road and air that trains are only used for trade, and not much for the transportation of people as in Europe and Asia. China is developing fast, but from a Third World infraestructure, so it can adapt better to the last technologies. Even if some coastal areas now can enjoy an excellent railway and highway system, a great part of the country is still living in the Third World, not with crumbling infraestructure but without any infraestructure at all but just roads of mud roads. Europe has both: a well developed infraestructure and high investment. The European Union has the largest high-speed and superhighway networks in the World (taking together all Western European nations) In fact, at the heart of the E.U. (Benelux, West Germany, Eastern France, Northern Italy, Southern England) there is no Km. without superhighways, motorways, high speed trains (TGV, ICE...) Russia still has to upgrade its infraestructure as it has done with the Magadan road, Sapsan, Sochi, Vladivostok...but still has a lot to do, so also for the Russian Federation is better an stable and pacific neighborhood so it can invest more in roads and railways than in weapons.

Like during the depression days of President Roosevelt...We (the US) are at a cross-roads...Infrastructural investment would turn the US economy around if managed correctly to go to new grass-root AMERICAN businesses rather than the existing global mega-developers...who ruined the construction market with their massive developments of cookie-cutter, McMansions, office parks & malls... These developers hide their profits off-shore & hire Latino slave labor to pound out thousands of poor quality houses at a time. These developers buy government compliance with easy permits & zoning by dangling tax revenue underneath the noses of corrupt city officials......Now with all the small contractors floundering & dying off , these behemoths are standing in the wings ready to consume any new infrastructure packages. I think Obama understands this notion...but he stands alone among Limo Liberals like the Clintons who are more corporate than Democrat......Other than Obama, here are the choices ordinary Americans have: 1. Global Corporate interests both liberal & conservative...Oil & weapons contractors are the epitomy of conservative interests..Media & Government subsidized colonial NGOs are liberal domains.The corporate globalists who owe the US tax-payers trillions of dollars are attempting to wash their hands of the whole banking fiasco by saying the recession is 'over'. This notion is aired frequently on Limo Liberal corporate media outlets like CNN, PBS & CBS..The Clintons and all the Senate represents these types...This is the plutocracy. 2. Tea-Party...These guys are the last gasp amalgam of ordinary WASP Americans who want their country back...They have no understanding of the outside world & are represented by quasi religious pundits posing as leaders.... In other words, "YIKES!"

If the US spends 2.5% of its GDP on infrastructure it is probably spending more than europe and China combined. Everything wears out and needs to be repaired. Bridges need to be repaired and New Orleans is being put back together all so those unemployed people will have a place to hang out again.

One truely sad point is, If one were to add the total dollars spent on next months elections, then just think of how much of a positive impact that much money would have on our infrastructure. Truely sad.