US Congress passed a bill that will privatize public infrastructure

[Hardkill]

2 days ago, the US House finally passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill after the US Senate passed their version of the bill about 3 months ago. Biden will now sign the bill within days. They are considering this to be a major landmark win for Biden because according to CNBC, "Washington has tried and failed for years to pass a major bill to upgrade critical transportation and utility infrastructure, which has come under more pressure from extreme weather."

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/05/house-passes-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-sends-it-to-biden.html

However, if it does get signed into law then public infrastructure will be sold to private companies. That means that those corporations which would then be leasing our public infrastructure will then be able to implement tolls and fees, and it ends up becoming a tax on the backs of working people. There is a part of the bill that states that these private entities are not allowed to implement tolls or fees towards those who make less than $400,000 per year. Yet, there's actually no enforcement mechanism in the legislation. There's no toll machine that tells the government how much money you're making as you're driving by in your car, and there really even shouldn't be.

This may be beneficial for the country in the short-term, but I am worried about the long-term negative consequences this will have for the country.

[captainamerica]

@Hardkill Not sure about the details of this but from the big picture view it can go both ways. 

Countries across the globe have used this for the long-term benefit and depending upon the implementation it can have negative long-term consequences as well. 

My personal opinion is that we don't really know until the execution we will have in years because on paper the ideas can say anything. Politicians can say anything on paper. Execution can go both ways over time, so certainly worth contemplating on potential negative consequences as well.

Edited November 8, 2021 by captainamerica

[How to be wise]

This should motivate everyone to make more money if they want to survive. Not a big deal if you ask me.

[DocWatts]

6 hours ago, How to be wise said:

This should motivate everyone to make more money if they want to survive. Not a big deal if you ask me.

Refreshing to hear a Right leaning person being honest about their Motivations for a change and just openly embracing a Social Darwinian culling of the weak. 

Get yourself a red lightsaber and your philosophy would be right at home for a Sith villain from Star Wars.

Edited November 8, 2021 by DocWatts

[2_spirit]

6 hours ago, How to be wise said:

This should motivate everyone to make more money if they want to survive. Not a big deal if you ask me.

This line of thinking is the root of evil and separation. You are damning your fellow man to starvation and death and proud of it. 

[How to be wise]

@2_spirit Things aren’t as bad as you’re imagining them to be.

[BadHippie]

@How to be wisethat depends on your values 

[snowyowl]

So Biden is going round privatising like mad, in a way which Trump never imagined?? I've just had the rug pulled from under me of how I thought US politics works. Looks like the Democrats are way more conservative and pro-private capitalism than I realised. What's happened to liberalism in the US? (I hardly dare mention socialism too!). 

[DocWatts]

12 minutes ago, snowyowl said:

So Biden is going round privatising like mad, in a way which Trump never imagined?? I've just had the rug pulled from under me of how I thought US politics works. Looks like the Democrats are way more conservative and pro-private capitalism than I realised. What's happened to liberalism in the US? (I hardly dare mention socialism too!). 

The Democratic Party is split between two wings : a Moderate / Conservative Wing and a Progressive Wing (what other countries would call Social Democrats).

The Republican Party is openly undemocratic and has begun courting fascism as a way to gain political power. Thier ideal would be for the US to become a mirror of Putin's autocratic Russia, where a plutocratic elite has free reign to loot the country after they've managed to effectively end democracy

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by DocWatts

[snowyowl]

@DocWatts   If only we could break free from the two-party state which we've been locked into for a long time (UK as well as the US). The voting system seems to encourage negative tactical voting - eg I hate this party so I'll vote for the other one to keep them out - I remember during the US election we had this debate. So you've got a govt which thinks it has public support for these policies when actually its main base is to keep the Republicans out. 

Was this privatisation policy in Biden's election manifesto? If not, why does he think he's got a mandate for it. 

[DocWatts]

@snowyowl Unfortunately there are structural reasons why the two party system is likely to remain in place here in the US. 

The reason stuff like this makes it in to Bills is that the Democratic Party (which consists of a conservative and progressive wing) just barely hold a majority in Congress and have an incredibly fragile coalition, and regressive policies like this are the result of conservative Dems insisting that right wing policy is shoved in to Bills like this in order for it to Pass.

A single democratic Senator withholding their Vote is enough to sink the entire Infrastructure Package, something which is taken advantage of by opportunistic conservatives who take in boatloads of money from corporate lobbyists who fund thier election campaigns.

(If this sounds like a corrupt system, it absolutely is).

As a side note, found this interesting video a while back which details what the US political system would look like if multiple parties were actually viable 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by DocWatts

[Leo Gura]

 

[Tech36363]

@Leo Gura USA is already sold to capitalists thru lobbyists . There was a survey i dont remember which basically said that when the top 5% want something to happen it happens but what the people want does not . America is a tie up between corporate and government where what the corporate wants is enforced thru government . How can you call yourself free market when americans cant even change their internet broadband connection provider that is straight up facism 

[AdroseAkise]

China is kicking this Nations @$$ so hard.  At least their Government doesn't bow to the will of private interests, and does not hesitate to build infrastructure, which they dominate at.

[Hardkill]

33 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

So, it’s that bad, huh? 

[diamondpenguin]

We all should move to Europe! Guys, it will bring our lives new meaning! Free from the corporate hand!