This is not about Charlie Sheen

Sorry - - if you were searching for the latest on Charlie Sheen, you got me.  Since I have your attention, how about a quick lesson on civics.  As you know (or maybe not), the key to growth is higher productivity through investment in technology, infrastructure, and education.  The attached graph illustrates federal investment in infrastructure versus GDP over time.  If investment in infrastructure is truly a key to higher productivity (I think it is) - - the graph is obviously going the wrong way (and some Charlie Sheen followers might notice that the graphic does not include state/local expenditures or private investment - - which is true, but I suspect also very small in the context of federal expenditures).  The graph illustrates that federal investment in infrastructure has declined from 1.23% of GDP in 1952 to 0.16% of GDP in 2008.  In 1950 our population stood at 150 million - - we are over 300 million today with projections calling for another 100 million this century.  Basically the two most important numbers in the context of public infrastructure investment are moving in opposite directions - - and they have for 50 years.

In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville made the observation in Democracy in America - - "The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened that any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults."  Clearly we have numerous faults that are in need of repair.  But we have plenty of physical elements that are a cornerstone to democracy and capitalism that need repair also - - potholes that need to be filled, airports that need expanding, dams that need reinforcing, and water plants that need upgrading.  Our future fundamentally depends on how we manage the present.  Public infrastructure is a source of our prosperity - - invest in it and we grow.  Ignore it and we decline.