The more I live in this place, the more expansive it seems to be. This world.
Lately, there is quite a bit of discussion about the country’s infrastructure. One side says it is one thing, the other side says differently.
All they have to do is consult the dictionary on this one. It seems pretty broad in scope to me.
in·fra·struc·ture | ˈinfrəˌstrək(t)SHər |
noun
the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
That covers a lot of ground. So today, I’ll address a few things that are under the umbrella.
Our Roads:
I like to drive above the speed limit. Not for the fact that I enjoy breaking the law. No. I don’t. It is just that in most cases, I find that the “limit” is too limiting for me. I’ll be in a 35 mph zone and instinctively know that 45 mph would be better. Thankfully for me, I’ve flown under the radar. By and large, I’ve escaped being ticketed. However, some people are not so lucky.
According to Guinness World Records, the first person to be charged with speeding was Walter Arnold. This happened in the English village of Paddock Wood, Kent. It came about a long time ago, too. On Jan. 28, 1896, Arnold was spotted going four times the speed limit in his 19th-century Benz.
Here’s the thing. The speed limit at the time was just two miles per hour. So old Walter Arnold was burning things up at eight mph. The constable had to chase him down on his bicycle, so that ought to tell you something. At any rate, Arnold got the ticket, the first of its kind.
And my point? We need good roads. Speeding or not, the money will follow.
Our Water:
Oh, you bet we need clean water. Today, more than two million Americans live without running water and basic indoor plumbing, and many more do not have sanitation. We need to think about them, first and foremost, when this bargaining comes to the table.
But these days, most Americans are sooooooo concerned with how much water they are drinking. They don’t even realize it is a luxury, something for which we should give thanks. Instead, so many spend $1.49 for a plastic container of water — the container landing into the garbage heaps.
I think so many people are transfixed with this. We can drink too much water, truth be told. Any one of us can suffer from water intoxication or hyponatremia. The condition occurs after an outrageous amount of water is consumed. There have been many notable cases. One of the most famous happened during the 2002 Boston Marathon. Competitor Cynthia Lucero died from over-hydration.
But our real problem is the places without any hydration.
Our Food:
We waste a lot. When so many people in our world are going hungry every day, this one should be a priority too.
The world wastes about 931 million metric tons of food each year. This was the figure that the United Nations came up with for the waste in 2019. It was all documented in the Food Waste Index Report 2021. The report surveyed 54 countries, finding that the majority of wasted food — 61% — comes from homes. Restaurants and other food services produce 26% of wasted food. Grocery stores make up just 13% of food waste.
This is one place we can all do our part. Our parents taught us to eat everything on our plates. So we should only take what we need.
Back to the definition of infrastructure and Washington. What is needed for the organizational operation of society? A lot of things. Not just roads, bridges, and buildings, but food, water, health, education, and on. All these things are pertinent in the operations of any society.
But to those in Congress, it is apples and oranges. Perhaps that will change.
Consider this:
Before it was the Big Apple, it was New Orange. Yes. New York City. When the Dutch captured New York from the English in 1673, they renamed it New Orange in honor of William III of Orange. And then? The following year, the English regained control and ditched the “Orange.” New York was back. Start spreading the news.
Big world. Apples and Oranges, people. Apples and Oranges.
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Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.
— Potter Stewart
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Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don’t.
— Pete Seeger
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The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.
— Martina Navratilova
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