I’m sure I speak for many of you when I say that I’m very disappointed with the handling of the debt ceiling issue. I’m not speaking of specific provisions in the legislation that was adopted (does anyone really know what’s in it anyway?), but how the political wrangling brought us to the brink of default.
What does this mean for us as engineers?
Regardless of political party, we deserve better from our elected federal officials in both the legislative and executive branches. We have several serious issues, and each needs to be addressed in concert and collaboration. My list of issues (in no particular order) includes:
- Meaningful deficit reduction
- Reform to control spiraling health care costs
- Developing a comprehensive energy plan
- Adequate funding for infrastructure (water, wastewater, roads, etc.)
- Measures that create new jobs to lower our unemployment ranks
- Tax reform to close loopholes and bring more balance and equity to the tax system
- Reforms to entitlement programs to assure their sustainability for the most needy
We need forward thinking on each of these issues if we are to leave our country in better shape for the generations to come, than the one we inherited. So what can we do as individuals? As professional engineers, we are uniquely equipped to address many of these concerns. Let’s get active, talking with our legislators. Give them ideas to pursue and insist on compromise for worthwhile solutions to our problems. I think it starts with us.
