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The government needs to think big in the next four years. No... wait... scratch that ... we need to think on a massive scale. Rebuilding roads and bridges, while vital, will not cut it.
We need to do more than just restore the Eisenhower-era national high system. We need to add another leg to the transportation grid: high-speed rail. I suggest we do that, in part, by passing out no-bid contracts to GM, Ford and Chrysler to build the rolling stock here in the U.S.
The events of 9/11 showed that air travel is vulnerable. And, if we ever need to once again the nation's air fleet, we'll want to be able to move goods and people quickly and efficiently on the ground. Hence, a new, modern rail system could be (and should be) seen as a national security priority -- just as the interstate highway system was seen as a national security priority during the Cold War.
Another big project should be a big expansion of student loans and aid to colleges so that higher education and other kinds of post-secondary training is available to every American who can do the work.
Our urban agenda should be equally bold. We need to make sure cities have what they need to fight crime and investors have good incentives to invest in now-blighted areas to create jobs and decent housing.
We also need to change the way we defend ourselves. That means having our NATO allies take on a bigger role in the defense of Europe and asking Japan to step up its military spending so that we can stand down. We cannot police the world alone and should stop trying.
Those are just a few ideas. I am sure others will have more of them.
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