I wouldn't say that globalization is a bad thing, just the way it was gone about was very...wrong.
As larger companies realized they could find cheaper labor over seas and American factories began to shut down, people began migrating into the larger city's and city centers.
Leaving small towns and the older people that live in them to essentially die alone.
As the Pandemic grinds on and these schisms in the fabric of the American culture widen and are shown how large they really are under the scabs that have grown over them in the last thirty or so years on thing keeps coming back to me.
Remote work and the needs of a national works project.
Setting aside the crimes against the labor forces that constructed the rail industry and the forced home relocations that came with the interstate system I feel like it has reached a point in our nations history to start another large scale project like that.
There is nothing more healing to the mind and the body than finding a project to throw ones self into. After the loss of a family member or dear friend it is often finding new things to work on to reflect on how things have changed in our lives. Sometimes the cause of the losses is because of drastic things and it is returning to something of a normal routine that returns stability a mind a heart at turmoil.
So how do we do this for a nation?
We rebuild it.
From the ground up.
For the past century America has gone around the world and attempted to help other, smaller nations, rebuild while our own nation falls into neglect and disrepair.
I see it. As someone that has worked in almost every sector of our economy.
From building homes to stocking shelves.
From laying streets to teaching children.
Remote work and the needs of a national works project.
Setting aside the crimes against the labor forces that constructed the rail industry and the forced home relocations that came with the interstate system I feel like it has reached a point in our nations history to start another large scale project like that.
There is nothing more healing to the mind and the body than finding a project to throw ones self into. After the loss of a family member or dear friend it is often finding new things to work on to reflect on how things have changed in our lives. Sometimes the cause of the losses is because of drastic things and it is returning to something of a normal routine that returns stability a mind a heart at turmoil.
So how do we do this for a nation?
We rebuild it.
From the ground up.
For the past century America has gone around the world and attempted to help other, smaller nations, rebuild while our own nation falls into neglect and disrepair.
I see it. As someone that has worked in almost every sector of our economy.
From building homes to stocking shelves.
From laying streets to teaching children.
From serving tables to repairing sewer lines.
I see it.
Going from places that once were fresh and newly built to the veritable ghost towns of neglect that they have become.
I can't get this crazy idea out of my head.
The one about rebuilding the railroads.
To connect communities back together.
To give a nation of people searching for meaning a common goal again.
That's the funny part.
When the nation was stitched together, for good or ill, with the steal of rail tracks it created something.
Going from places that once were fresh and newly built to the veritable ghost towns of neglect that they have become.
I can't get this crazy idea out of my head.
The one about rebuilding the railroads.
To connect communities back together.
To give a nation of people searching for meaning a common goal again.
That's the funny part.
When the nation was stitched together, for good or ill, with the steal of rail tracks it created something.
That something was literally cemented together when the interstate system took the place of rails.
But as that concrete based started to crack and crumble it was patched back together with asphalt.
Now those patches are starting stretch as the underlying problems beneath them continue to rot away.
But as that concrete based started to crack and crumble it was patched back together with asphalt.
Now those patches are starting stretch as the underlying problems beneath them continue to rot away.
So what do we do?
How can we fix things?
How can we fix things?
I say by running the rails again.
Relaying the track.
By stitching the communities back together.
There's no real need for taking new land for this project. The old rail easements are still there. Empty lots where the stations used to sit. Crumbling down towns full of empty store fronts like crowds holding it's breath waiting for the teams to enter the field.
We start simply.
We get the steel, sitting in junk yards and scrap yards and we recycle it.
Into track and engine and cars.
While the foundations are being formed we find the routs.
Along old highways and forgotten lines.
Through the hearts of small towns, stopping at reservations and parks.
Transferring and stopping in cities.
From there we gather the bottles and cans.
And spin it into the fibers needed for a digital foundation.
Once the routs are found and all of the old steel and plastic and glass melted and reshaped
We build.
Rail lines to carry people on commutes from rule communities into the cities to work, trade, explore, and plan.
To carry people from cities to rule communities to live and play.
Fiber lines to keep communications fast and open so that those stuck at home through disease, handicap, age, or choice can work from where they live.
To create solid foundations for the digital age we find ourselves and help better study, teach, and stay in touch with the larger world.
And carry the grid.
The electrical grid that keeps all of the toys and tools and cars charged and ready to go.
Relaying the track.
By stitching the communities back together.
There's no real need for taking new land for this project. The old rail easements are still there. Empty lots where the stations used to sit. Crumbling down towns full of empty store fronts like crowds holding it's breath waiting for the teams to enter the field.
We start simply.
We get the steel, sitting in junk yards and scrap yards and we recycle it.
Into track and engine and cars.
While the foundations are being formed we find the routs.
Along old highways and forgotten lines.
Through the hearts of small towns, stopping at reservations and parks.
Transferring and stopping in cities.
From there we gather the bottles and cans.
And spin it into the fibers needed for a digital foundation.
Once the routs are found and all of the old steel and plastic and glass melted and reshaped
We build.
Rail lines to carry people on commutes from rule communities into the cities to work, trade, explore, and plan.
To carry people from cities to rule communities to live and play.
Fiber lines to keep communications fast and open so that those stuck at home through disease, handicap, age, or choice can work from where they live.
To create solid foundations for the digital age we find ourselves and help better study, teach, and stay in touch with the larger world.
And carry the grid.
The electrical grid that keeps all of the toys and tools and cars charged and ready to go.
We build.
And as the building draws to a conclusion we plan.
For the repairs, for the upgrades, for the maintenance, and for the emergencies.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
Every step of the way rebuilding old industries in a modern age.
Creating new industries to support and rebuild things from past ages.
And turning forgotten small towns into vibrant homes.
Crumbling cities into bastions of education.
It's a lot of work.
And work that will help a nation heal after centuries of fighting with its self and act as an example as other nations build towards their futures.
A solid partner to those nations that have built on their own foundations and continue to thrive.
And as the building draws to a conclusion we plan.
For the repairs, for the upgrades, for the maintenance, and for the emergencies.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
Every step of the way rebuilding old industries in a modern age.
Creating new industries to support and rebuild things from past ages.
And turning forgotten small towns into vibrant homes.
Crumbling cities into bastions of education.
It's a lot of work.
And work that will help a nation heal after centuries of fighting with its self and act as an example as other nations build towards their futures.
A solid partner to those nations that have built on their own foundations and continue to thrive.
And a sign of respect to the nations that were here before and hopefully will continue to be as the land and it's people begin to heal.
