Americans make countless demands on our government and public servants every day. If it's not about how the stimulus or bailouts will work, it's about our foreign policy in Asia, or a roadmap for peace in the Middle East, or the latest controversy on the application of separation of Church and State, or more locally, state budgets, taxes, pork projects and everything in between.
In the often reactionary way we deal with the latest crisis, we tend
to neglect the more fundamental issues. American infrastructure is one
such issue.
Electricity and transportation are two foundational issues
which are critical for all else in our society. If we can't power our homes, our cars, our phones and our computers,
we're blind.
Similarly, if we can't travel successfully, quickly, efficiently and cheaply, we're sentencing ourselves to an outmoded and obsolete way of life while modern competitor nations like China and India move quickly to create 21st century system of travel.
The Problem: A 1950s Traffic Control System
When was the last time you took a flight in the United States? If
you're like most Americans, you've flown at some point in the last
12-24 months. I last flew in July, and it was a nightmare. Flying from
Philadelphia to Panama City, Fl involved four layovers, two delays and
a missed connection.
I'll be flying again in two weeks. And I'm expecting similar frustrations. I shouldn't be worried; no one should have these problems in a country that is by any measure the wealthiest and most advanced in the history of the world. Yet, we settle.
The Solution: A 21st Century 'NextGen' System
American Solutions for Winning the Future has a vision for the next
generation of flight technology. It's called "NextGen," and it could revolutionize the way we travel in the skies.
Here's a basic explanation of NextGen:
NextGen uses global positioning satellites has been proposed and has received initial funding. It determines the position of aircraft once per second, relaying that information to all other airplanes and traffic control. This would allow planes to fly closer together while increasing safety and would boost the capacity of our airways by about 40 percent. It would eliminate nearly all delays, except for those caused by weather. It would mean more efficient airlines, using less fuel, having higher profits and higher wages, and offering better service at lower costs.
Are you as excited as we are for this 21st century American Solution?
A Call To Action: You Can Help Bolster America's Vital Infrastructure
Whether you travel every week, every month or every few years, you can
be a part of the movement to bring America's vital airline
infrastructure into the 21st century, and ensure we remain competitive
with the world's leading nations.
It's really that simple. As one of American Solutions' more than 1.5 million members, we can make a real difference today with the investment of just a few minutes.
Tom Shakely is a student at the Pennsylvania State University and Web Editor for The Philadelphia Bulletin. Find more at his website or e-mail him.
