Biden Infrastructure plan

[Hank77]

Perhaps the fact that China does not prioritize investment in Green technologies but remains firmly committed to fossil fuels despite the vast harm it is doing to their environment and the health of their populace is the reason for the pace of their economic growth ?

Both of those vehicles, even without the federal incentives, are less expensive than other EVs sold in the U.S., including the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Kona EV — to name a few.

The target is middle class U.S. consumers. It’s a group that has had few affordable EV choices, Kandi Technologies Chairman Xiaoming Hu said in a statement. Kandi America CEO Johnny Ta echoed those sentiments.
...
The vehicles will be sold by Garland, Texas-based Kandi America, the trade name of Kandi’s wholly owned subsidiary SC Autosports, LLC. Sales will initially focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the company said.
[Oh the irony, electric cars built in China being sold exclusively in Texas. ]
America’s cheapest electric vehicles are coming courtesy of Chinese automaker Kandi – TechCrunch


https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/23/chi...egys-implications-for-us-energy-security.html

 

[wing2000]

1) Is America's infrastructure in need of an upgrade on this scale?
2) Is it time to move to Green technologies?
3) Why are people opposed to this?
4) Why the breakneck pace of growth in rival economies like China who invest heavily in infrastructure not impress Republicans?

1) Yes.
2) Yes (with appropriate retraining for those who work in the carbon industries)
3) Since Reagan, a good chunk of the population believes anything over seen by the government is bad (despite the National Interstate System under Eisenhower, the Space program, etc)
4) I think some Republicans do understand that in order to compete, the US must keep up. In fact, Trump and Congressional leaders were considering a 2 Trillion dollar plan early in his presidency. Alas, he never made it a priority.

 

[wing2000]

Both of those vehicles, even without the federal incentives, are less expensive than other EVs sold in the U.S., including the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Kona EV — to name a few.

The target is middle class U.S. consumers. It’s a group that has had few affordable EV choices, Kandi Technologies Chairman Xiaoming Hu said in a statement. Kandi America CEO Johnny Ta echoed those sentiments.
...
The vehicles will be sold by Garland, Texas-based Kandi America, the trade name of Kandi’s wholly owned subsidiary SC Autosports, LLC. Sales will initially focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the company said.
[Oh the irony, electric cars built in China being sold exclusively in Texas. ]
America’s cheapest electric vehicles are coming courtesy of Chinese automaker Kandi – TechCrunch


https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/23/chi...egys-implications-for-us-energy-security.html

Elon Musk reportedly has plans to produce a 20k Tesla as early as 2022 to be built in China and marketed globally.

 

[Fantine]

I di think that states who created their own catastrophes by underspending need to contribute to fix the problems they created.

Specifically Texas' electric grid. If they can get away with not providing basic adequate services to their citizens without any accountability, they'll do it over and over.

 

[mark46]

I di think that states who created their own catastrophes by underspending need to contribute to fix the problems they created.

Specifically Texas' electric grid. If they can get away with not providing basic adequate services to their citizens without any accountability, they'll do it over and over.

In Texas, it has been the state government not forcing the utilities to spend the money. It is a problem with regulation rather than a problem with public spending and taxation.

 

[iluvatar5150]

These are some of the 45 spending proposals in the bill--

$400 billion for care for elderly relatives and the disabled.

$100 billion for new public schools.

$60 billion to upgrade public housing projects and for tax credits relating to the "Neighborhood Homes Investment Act."

$30 billion for programs to monitor employers in order to be sure that they are providing workplaces free from racial and gender discrimination and to insure that new projects promote racial "equity."

$10 billion for a "Civilian Climate Corps."

Republicans gave $170 billion in tax cuts to real estate developers.
Bonanza for Rich Real Estate Investors, Tucked Into Stimulus Package (Published 2020)

 

[Fantine]

Maybe Biden believes that "human infrastructure" is needed as much as bricks and mortar is.

Imagine how many more elderly and disabled individuals might live better quality---and exponentially less expensive---lives with loving family members if the family had some respite and support mechanisms in place.

I think that we really need to rethink our practice of warehousing the elderly who can't live independently anymore, barreling through the resources they took a lifetime to accumulate, and then letting Medicaid pay $100 grand a year.

But families need help caring for their elderly members. They can't afford to give up their jobs (average wages being what they are, but that's another story.) If their parents are 90 and they are 65 or 70, they might not have the physical strength to help them shower, etc.

Some schools are crumbling, too, especially in inner cities. Some rural schools need to be wired for internet access.

The Democrats are thinking big, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just as with the stimulus, Republicans will propose downsizing it. Democrats will agree. Then, true to form, Republicans will vote against it anyway.

But, just as with the stimulus, infrastructure is popular, and they will vote against it at their peril.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Maybe Biden believes that "human infrastructure" is needed as much as bricks and mortar is.

Imagine how many more elderly and disabled individuals might live better quality---and exponentially less expensive---lives with loving family members if the family had some respite and support mechanisms in place.

I think that we really need to rethink our practice of warehousing the elderly who can't live independently anymore, barreling through the resources they took a lifetime to accumulate, and then letting Medicaid pay $100 grand a year.

But families need help caring for their elderly members. They can't afford to give up their jobs (average wages being what they are, but that's another story.) If their parents are 90 and they are 65 or 70, they might not have the physical strength to help them shower, etc.

Some schools are crumbling, too, especially in inner cities. Some rural schools need to be wired for internet access.

The Democrats are thinking big, and there's nothing wrong with that. Just as with the stimulus, Republicans will propose downsizing it. Democrats will agree. Then, true to form, Republicans will vote against it anyway.

But, just as with the stimulus, infrastructure is popular, and they will vote against it at their peril.

There are a lot of school buildings with facilities that would make office workers revolt. Baltimore City maintains a list of schools that don't have air conditioning that will close on hot days, noting that other schools that do have AC may still close early if their systems aren't working properly:
Schools Without AC | Baltimore City Public Schools

It's 2021 and there are still schools in the hot, muggy mid-Atlantic without A/C. We've had weeks in January that got into the 70's.

 

[mark46]

Maybe Biden believes that "human infrastructure" is needed as much as bricks and mortar is.

.

I agree.

I also believe that there should be gun legislation, immigration reform and criminal justice reform.

Those beliefs don't mean that these should be in a jobs bill. In addition, Biden well understand that this make the bill nearly impossible to pass even if only Democratic votes would be needed. A bricks and mortar infrastructure bill could pass with Democrats only votes. Yes, it could include other things that directly produced jobs.

The real problem is the progressives who think that this bill is not enough. Enough for what? To make so that we need no other laws for the next 3 years? An infrastructure bill is needed. A voting rights bill is needed. Also needed is an understanding of priorities. Not compromises, just what comes first.

 

[Gene2memE]

Perhaps the fact that China does not prioritize investment in Green technologies but remains firmly committed to fossil fuels despite the vast harm it is doing to their environment and the health of their populace is the reason for the pace of their economic growth ?

You really don't have any idea what you're talking about.

According to BP, China has been the world's leading spender on renewables investment for the last 11 years.

One dollar in four invested globally in renewables since 2007 has been Chinese.

China has spent nearly twice what the US has on renewables in the past six years.

Chinese renewables energy production has grown at an average of 41% per annum since 2007. Fossil fuels energy has grown at 2.9%.

Renewables and nuclear investment in China has been triple fossil fuel investment for the past three years.

 

[Sparagmos]

As an international observer of American politics married to an American I have been impressed by the recent plans to invest in America's infrastructure. Joe Biden's Build Back Better program initiative proposes to revamp America's decaying infrastructure. It seems like a no-brainer to me but there is a lot of opposition to this brewing. Many of these opponents focus on a hidden agenda of making America a leader in green technologies and cleaning up the environment,

THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM

To illustrate the scale of America's infrastructure problem read the following report:
ASCE’s 2021 American Infrastructure Report Card | GPA: C-

America received a C- score in a recent review of its infrastructure. Highlights included:

1. an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water lost each day in the U.S., enough to fill over 9,000 swimming pools.
2. 43% of ... public roadways in poor or mediocre condition, a number that has remained stagnant over the past several years.
3. A quarter of all levees (e.g. preventing flood damage from rivers) are not inventoried and are in unknown condition

THE PLAN

Key features include:

• adding 500,000 electric vehicle chargers
• rebuilding conventional transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports, rail, and public transportation)
• a carbon-neutral program to transition government vehicles to electric vehicles, along with the possible extension of consumer tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles. (Tesla and General Motors capped out the $7500 income tax credit for the first 200,000 EVs sold)
• light-rail networks and infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians for the 300 largest U.S. cities
• set a target for a "carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035."

Infrastructure policy of the Joe Biden administration - Wikipedia

THE BENEFITS

An economic analysis from Moody's Analytics found Biden's infrastructure policies would create 18.6 million jobs and increase average American income by $4,800 during his first term

THE COSTS

Business taxes will be raised to pay for this from 21-28% which still remains low by international standards.

QUESTIONS

1) Is America's infrastructure in need of an upgrade on this scale?
2) Is it time to move to Green technologies?
3) Why are people opposed to this?
4) Why the breakneck pace of growth in rival economies like China who invest heavily in infrastructure not impress Republicans?

I’m thrilled about the plan. And yes, we can more than afford it. We are a very wealthy nation.

 

[mindlight]

1) Is America's infrastructure in need of an upgrade on this scale?
No

Did you miss the report in the OP?

America's infrastructure is decaying — here's a look at how terrible things have gotten
Put America first and pass infrastructure package

2) Is it time to move to Green technologies?
Define Green technologies.

Windmills, solar panels, electric cars, fixed water pipes.....

3) Why are people opposed to this?
Numerous reasons. One being that the last "infrastructure/ stimulus bill" passed in the Obama administration seemed to end up profiting only Democratic Party supporters and special interests ( much like the recently passed "Covid/ stimulus bill.") that had nothing whatsoever to do with infrastructure "Not as shovel ready as we expected" . Another being that the US is approaching a debt amount that so exceeds its ability to pay that Greece's problems will look miniscule in comparison.

Procedurally it might be a mistake to lump renovations of public schools and care for the elderly with an infrastructure bill. But these are also things that need doing and were neglected under the last administration. The people who profit seem to the poor, but do Democrats have a monopoly on the votes of poor people. Are you saying that these are not the Republicans constituency?

4) Why the breakneck pace of growth in rival economies like China who invest heavily in infrastructure not impress Republicans?
Not being a Republican, I can't say. Perhaps the fact that China does not prioritize investment in Green technologies but remains firmly committed to fossil fuels despite the vast harm it is doing to their environment and the health of their populace is the reason for the pace of their economic growth ?

You really do not have clue do you? Look at the numbers and then come back to me on that one.

 

[mindlight]

Both of those vehicles, even without the federal incentives, are less expensive than other EVs sold in the U.S., including the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Kona EV — to name a few.

The target is middle class U.S. consumers. It’s a group that has had few affordable EV choices, Kandi Technologies Chairman Xiaoming Hu said in a statement. Kandi America CEO Johnny Ta echoed those sentiments.
...
The vehicles will be sold by Garland, Texas-based Kandi America, the trade name of Kandi’s wholly owned subsidiary SC Autosports, LLC. Sales will initially focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the company said.
[Oh the irony, electric cars built in China being sold exclusively in Texas. ]
America’s cheapest electric vehicles are coming courtesy of Chinese automaker Kandi – TechCrunch


https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/23/chi...egys-implications-for-us-energy-security.html

The cheapest electric cars are ones like the Smart car or Citigo both German ( Cheapest electric cars 2021: affordable EVs)

China is investing heavily but the technological edge and the largest market for these are likely to remain in Europe in the near future.

Teslas cost too much and the only way Musk thinks he can get his costs down enough is to put his factories in China.

 

[Speedwell]

Our electricity grid is obsolete and inadequate. Compared to the distribution grids of other modern industrial (and even some 3rd world) nations it's a right mess. Parts of it are over 100 years old and I would not be surprised to learn that some of its components had been put in place by Nicola Tesla himself. It is subject to unnecessary breakdowns and vulnerable to foreign computer hackers. These deficiencies impact not only health and safety but industrial productivity as well. If it was rebuilt it could be made more adaptable to distributed power sources such as wind and solar. What should we do about it? The conservatives among us apparently think we should do nothing.

 

[mindlight]

Our electricity grid is obsolete and inadequate. Parts of it are over 100 years old and I would not be surprised to learn that some of its components had been put in place by Nicola Tesla himself. It is subject to unnecessary breakdowns and vulnerable to foreign computer hackers. These deficiencies impact not only health and safety but industrial productivity as well. If it was rebuilt it could be made more adaptable to distributed power sources such as wind and solar. What should we do about it? The conservatives among us apparently think we should do nothing.

I do not understand why conservatives would be against it. Eisenhower built the Interstates for instance. A man stepped on the moon during Nixon's administration. Also, this is an America First issue that will help America compete against the likes of China. The numbers are clear, this will make jobs, open up rural areas to new money, save lives and guard against catastrophes, fix the potholes, ensure the bridge does not fall down, guard the nation against hackers and keep the lights on. If they just focus the bill on these sorts of things this should be a bipartisan no-brainer.

 

[Arcangl86]

I just want to say that funding for new or updated school buildings makes a lot of sense to me because schools are used for a lot of things besides educating kids.

 

[Always in His Presence]

I am 100% in favor of joes plan for infrastructure and 100% against the 94% of the bill that has zero to do with infrastructure.

 

[Arcangl86]

I am 100% in favor of joes plan for infrastructure and 100% against the 94% of the bill that has zero to do with infrastructure.

Such as? I find it easy to believe that there is pork in the bill. I find it incredibly hard to believe that the vast majority of the bill is pork.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Such as? I find it easy to believe that there is pork in the bill. I find it incredibly hard to believe that the vast majority of the bill is pork.

Biden's $2T spending plan, billed as infrastructure bill, spends less than half on infrastructure

Only 6% Of Biden's Infrastructure Bills Goes To - Infrastructure

FNC's Peter Doocy Presses WH's Jen Psaki On Infrastructure Bill: Why Is Only 5% Going To Roads And Bridges?

 

[Arcangl86]

Ah ok. You are using an ultra restrictive definition of infrastructure.