Dear GOP

via The New York Times:

The Obama administration said Monday that it would ask the lame-duck Congress next month to approve a $50 billion down payment on his long-range initiative to improve the nation’s roads, railways and air systems and to find savings to offset that cost, suggesting a new urgency to create jobs after last week’s disappointing unemployment report.

President Obama met at the White House with mayors, governors and current and former transportation secretaries of both parties to promote the infrastructure initiative, which he first proposed in September. Afterward, Ray LaHood, his transportation secretary and a former Republican congressman, told reporters that the lame-duck session would present an “upfront opportunity” to pass the $50 billion measure. Before then, however, the midterm elections on Nov. 2 are all but certain to expand the size of Mr. Obama’s Republican opposition for the new Congress that convenes in January. So Republicans returning later in November for unfinished business are likely to be in no mood to compromise with the White House when they will have the strength of greater numbers in the new year.

Approving $50 billion more for construction projects would be difficult enough, given that many Democrats have shied away from supporting more economic stimulus spending and that Republicans have convinced many voters that Mr. Obama’s initial two-year stimulus program, which included roughly $40 billion for transportation projects, failed to create jobs. But trying to agree on offsetting savings also would be contentious.

It's been said in numerous political arenas that the government is to do for the people what the people cannot do for themselves. Some take this to mean that the government should provide aspects of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness such as health care, education and protecting citizens. At the same time, oters feel that this tenet shouldn't include much at all. GOP, you're really taking this 'we hate big government' thing a little too far. President Obama introduced a $50 million bill that would jump-start initiatives to rebuild America's infrastructure, including its roads, railways and air systems. And you guys are doing what you've been doing for the past two years under Obama: say 'no'.

GOP, in what universe is improving a nation's infrastructure considered frivolous spending or too much interference from the government? I thought the government was supposed to regulate things of that nature and improve those systems when they begin to deteriorate. In terms of roads and railways, we're slowly falling behind other countries. In Japan and Europe, high-speed rails have all but replaced the Amtrak-style trains that have not only become ridiculously expensive, but also lag behind buses in efficiency. In terms of roads, every US city has thousands of miles upon miles of roads that are dilapidated and in desperate need of repair. Airline travel has become an inefficient luxury because of lack of regulation and airlines constantly folding. And you'd rather be a roadblock (no pun intended) to improving those systems for some vain reason, than just work to do... something with your power? Come on, son...

The thing is, these initiatives proposed by the Obama administration would cost us virtually nothing compared to the dearth of wealth we've just tossed away trying to 'rebuild' Afghanistan and Iraq. The transportation initiative is even going to create jobs, something that your policies have yet to do. Yet and still, you guys continue to say 'no'. Why? What is the point of saying 'no' for the sake of saying 'no'? Something as rudimentary as infrastructure-building shouldn't be a political divider, no matter how much contention or animosity there is between the parties. President Obama is trying to do an Eisenhower-esque overhaul of our outdated infrastructure. Are you really going to stand in the way of that, cutting corners for the sake of an outmoded platform? Midterms are probably going to shift the tides of Congress back your way. You've already fudged up the health care and stimulus bills. Don't stymie the arteries of our nation...