Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Senator Frank Lautenberg and a new WPA

(U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, January 23, 1924 - June 3, 2013, image courtesy of Wikipedia.)

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) passed away yesterday, June 3, 2013. 

In 2011, Lautenberg introduced legislation to create a new WPA to give employment opportunities to the jobless and, among other things, rebuild America's deteriorating infrastructure--infrastructure that was recently given a grade of D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Lautenberg's legislation received only 5 co-sponsors, and the bill eventually died in committee. Our Congress, more swayed by campaign contributions from wealthy donors than from a desire to improve the nation's infrastructure or help the unemployed, didn't think much of Lautenberg's noble legislation.  

Lautenberg was a veteran of World War II. As America's greatest generation passes on, and the "greed is good" society takes hold, one has to wonder about the future of America.

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