Congress Actually Does Something

I see that, today, from an post on Senator Roy Blunt's Facebook page, he's congratulating himself and our other Senator Claire McCaskill, for getting something done in Congress this week.

Blunt-McCaskill Bill to Make Ste. Genevieve a National Park

Great. Another National Park. In an election year. A National Park that, next year, when the election is over, Republicans won't fund. 

$11.49 Billion Park Service 

Maintenance Backlog

Meanwhile, the Senators and all of Congress are about to go on a 7 week "recess." 

Read: vacation.

But have they worked on the national budget we need?

I doubt it.

And one thing they absolutely HAVE NOT worked on, nor will, is an infrastructure/ jobs bill for the nation.

Sure, our nation's infrastructure--our roads, bridges and highways, at minimum--have been underfunded and neglected and ignored now for some years and they all need repairing and improving and updating but are the Republicans in Congress going to give America and Americans an infrastructure/jobs bill?

Oh, heck no.

Forget that we need all those repairs and updates. Forget that I-70 is an unrepaired, far-too-narrow dangerous threat of a main artery that cuts across our state. Forget that Americans need the jobs. Forget that the economy could use the boost. Forget that it would make Americans safer in our travel. Forget that it could make even business easier to make happen. Finally, forget that improved infrastructure actually makes the nation stronger, healthier while war spending, Defense spending is money down a rat hole that weakens us.

What's important is that the Republicans in Congress, in the Federal and state governments, too, across the nation, take care of themselves and their own offices and their own sources for campaign contributions first, and Americans and America, second, if even then.

It's Republican Party first, make no mistake.

I love how they call it "recess", too.  Note they don't call it vacation. Can you imagine if you had a job where you had multiple times off work, that you created yourself, and one of them was seven---count 'em, 7---weeks long?

We should be so lucky.

And we Americans tolerate this nonsense.

Links:  Lawmakers to go on recess without addressing Zika

US Congress Preps for Long Recess

Congress to take months-long recess with no action on gun control

Congress eyes the exits in dash to recess

Faster Traffic, Lots of Wins

Why aren't we all doing this?

 

Ideas Worth Stealing: Easing traffic with technology, not blacktop

Why aren't all cities doing this? 

Think of the benefits.

• Less time wasted
• Less gas burned, wasted
• Less pollution
• More productivity
• Less frustration, anger, even possible road rage

Huge gains.

Can you imagine if Kansas City and all the cities and towns in the area---and state and nation---did this?

SOCIALISM!!

Really, it gets tiresome.

The Insanity of Not Funding Our Highways and Infrastructure

Right now, neither our own Missouri state legislature nor our national, Federal, Congressional legislature are funding the maintenance, repair and improvements of our infrastructure--our highways, etc. This just broke in the last week:

No expansion projects for the next five years, says MoDOT

No Missouri Department of Transportation expansion projects, such as new lanes, interchanges or bridges, are planned over the next five years. That represents a first in the department’s history, the result of a bleak funding outlook.

The belt-tightening comes as MoDOT braces for lean years after the death of a gasoline tax hike in the Legislature and rejection by voters of a sales tax increase that would have provided about $5.4 billion over 10 years for roads and bridges as well as ports, railways and public transit.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission this month approved MoDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program report, which covers plans for fiscal years 2016 to 2020.

Steve Miller, chairman of the commission, said in a post on MoDOT’s website Monday that the plan is a “glimpse to a future that no Missourian should want.”

He also said the first contract awards of the new fiscal year, which began this month, were the lowest in memory and bad for Missouri contractors, who are now seeking work in our neighboring states with brighter prospects.

But wait. It gets better. worse.

Some contractors already are leaving the road business to focus on railroad work, or leaving the state entirely, said Len Toenjes, president of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri.

“Our folks are at their wits’ end with what’s happening, or not happening, in Jefferson City and are going to work elsewhere,” he said.

Without any growth in state revenue, Missouri will not be able to match available federal transportation funds by fiscal year 2017. Missouri can match $1 of state funds with $4 of federal funds.

Then it gets downright stupid:

MoDOT has reduced its workforce by 20 percent, disposed of more than 750 pieces of equipment and sold 124 facilities since 2011 for savings of more than $605 million, the department said.

MoDOT estimates that $885 million of federal reimbursements in fiscal year 2016 will drop to $491 million in fiscal year 2020 due to declining construction because of “insufficient state revenues.”

By 2018, the state could lose $400 million in federal funds, even though Missourians will still be paying federal gasoline taxes that won’t fund Missouri projects.

We're turning away money. We're turning away, then, Federal dollars because we don't keep up our end of the investment bargain. And at the same time, we're paying into the "Federal pot" but not able to take what we should back out of it.

To whom but Right Wing, "Conservative" Republicans does this make sense?

And this is just on the state level. For anyone following highway funding on the Federal level, in Washington, we know there, too, the Right Wing Republicans, just like our Missouri representatives, are blocking any increase in this funding. It's ridiculous. And this on top of the fact that gasoline costs are at their lowest in years. This should make their job of raising these funds, the gas tax, all the easier. But then, these are Republicans.

They haven't raised the gas tax in years--since 1992--we drive less, as a nation, than we used so that also shrinks the fund and we need more and more repair and updates to our highways and infrastructure. It's insane. It's certainly fiscally irresponsible.

Think about this, too.

If Congress, in Washington, were to pass a good, reasonable gas tax, as they ought, so we can get money to and in the Highway Fund and then were to pass a good, true, workable, comprehensive jobs/infrastructure bill---translated: DO THEIR JOBS---we could give more Americans jobs and get more Americans to work, improve our infrastructure and boost the economy, all three. Three total, huge wins. For anyone and anywhere else, this would be a no-brainer. But then we're dealing with Right Wingers. And Republicans. And people who don't want this president to be successful.

So screw you, America. You have to wait.

You have to wait until there's a Republican back in the White House.

If even then.

God forbid.

Links:  Mo Rage: No urgency on I-70 from anywhere

 Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure - CBS News

Why Congress Can't Solve America's Infrastructure Crisis

The Race to Rebuild America's Infrastructure 

This, Out of Jefferson City, Is Inexcusable

I saw this article and link yesterday, online:

Legislative session came — and went — with no highway fix

One of the most important things our state legislators at the state capitol needed to do this last session, the one just ended, was to have found some way to fund and pay for the infrastructure work and repairs we need all across this state on all our roads, bridges and highways.

They didn't touch it.

It's made all the worse by the fact that the Federal Government in Washington is playing the same seeming fiddle they are.

Leaving the Highway Trust Fund High and Dry

Congress has bought the U.S. two more months of highway funding – through the end of July. Just like last summer, Congress has left major uncertainty about federal funding for our nation’s highway system for debate during the height of the summer travel season.

We need about $50 billion a year to maintain the nation’s highways, but the main revenue source for that maintenance, the federal gas tax, hasn’t been increased even to adjust for inflation since 1993. Currently it brings in about $34 billion a year, leaving a major funding shortfall.

So each year, Congress finds itself passing short term stop gap measures. Each year, this process takes time and attention from other matters. Since 2008 alone, Congress has enacted 33 temporary fixes for the highway fund.

Proposals exist for more permanent solutions, but despite the seeming common sense of raising the gas tax after more than twenty years, lawmakers each year choose to continue underinvestment and uncertainty for our nation’s infrastructure. It’s part of a larger pattern of underinvestment in infrastructure, and we can do better.

And we've known we've needed these repairs and updates for years. We know we can't have good, smooth roads and bridges without upkeep. Nothing works like that, let alone our thoroughfares.

More on what needs to be done:

CBO: Highway Trust Fund would need $3 billion through Sept. 30

Adding to the insanity of the current situation is that with gasoline prices having dropped so precipitously in the last year or two, it surely seems easy and clear that we should maybe add at least some, a bit, to our gas tax as a way to pay for it all. Gasoline has gone from over $4 per gallon 2 years ago to now just over $2 per gallon. Surely we can agree there's some room in there to raise the gas tax--it hasn't been raised since 1993, for pity's sake--so we can fund our transportation repairs.

America used to work. We used to be able to do things. We used to be able to do these things. It's how we built our national highway system. It's also how we built a thriving middle class and a strong, even robust economy.

Sure, the Republicans stand in the way of tax increases but we have to find a way forward on this issue and, of course, others.

Our choices are to start having our  roads, bridges and freeways become toll roads--no one likes those-- or we can continue to let them fall apart.

Surely we can all agree we don't want to be that kind of nation and people.

We need to get our legislators to act, on the state and federal levels, both.

Senator Blunt Said WHAT???

Last evening, the following was typed onto Missouri Senator Roy Blunt's Facebook page:

Missouri is at the center of our nation’s highway, railway, and waterway transportation networks, which makes infrastructure an integral part of our state’s economy. Infrastructure creates jobs, connects people and communities, and enables us to compete globally. I’ll keep working to ensure that investing in our nation’s infrastructure remains a priority this week during ‪#‎InfrastructureWeek‬ and every week. ‪#‎RebuildRenew‬

I have to tell you, I was stunned.

Thrilled but stunned.

For all these years, no Republican member of Congress since at least 2008 has written or sponsored or proposed any infrastructure or jobs/infrastructure bill.

Not one.

Including, of course, Senator Roy Blunt.

So here, after all this time of we Americans needing jobs and our infrastructure needing work and updates and improvements and the economy---God knows--needing the boost, suddenly there's this statement, this recognition that we need some things done to our nation's highways, railways, waterway transportation networks, our bridges, all that?

Knock me down with a feather.

And call me skeptical, at the same time.

Sure, I hope Senator Blunt puts his legislative work where his mouth--or keyboard--is but I just find it difficult to believe he'll finally, finally do the right thing for the American people and for the nation and do just that---write, propose and at least try to get passed a jobs/infrastructure bill.

There can be no better example of a highway that needs updating and improving than Missouri's own stretch of Interstate 70 from Illinois and St. Louis to the East, through the middle of the state and Columbia, all the way to Kansas City and Kansas to the West. It's outdated, it's narrow, heck, it's even downright dangerous to the point of lethal, repeatedly.

However right and good it is for the nation and people, it seems the last thing Senator Blunt or his Republican Party wants to do is have more Americans working and America with a better economy while this person of the other political party is in the White House, nation be damned.

God, I'd love to be wrong.

So here's hoping. Here's hoping our own Missouri Senator Roy Blunt and all his Republican colleagues finally see the light, as it were, and do what's good and right and needed and necessary for the people and the economy and the infrastructure of the country.

I don't think they will but it could happen.

Again, here's hoping.

What Will It Take to Get Congress to Give Us an Infrastructure Bill?

Yes sir, breaking news on more of America's infrastructure. And ironically, poignantly, it's out of "red state", Republican Texas, no less.

1 dead, 3 injured in bridge collapse on I-35

Not only did a bridge collapse but it was tragic, too:

KVUE in Texas is reporting 1 person is dead and 3 are injured in a bridge collapse in Bell County, Texas.

One person is dead and at least three others are injured after a crash along Interstate 35 near mile marker 286 in Salado, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS said the person who died was in a pickup truck driving under the bridge when it collapsed. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, around 11 a.m. Thursday, an oversized tractor trailer hit a beam of the FM 2484 overpass bridge that was under construction on I-35. The impact caused several beams to become dislodged and fall onto the roadway.

Not only is our infrastructure collapsing, as here, but it killed an American and hurt others.

So I ask you, at what point are our representatives in Congress going to do something to write, propose and pass a good, strong, meaningful infrastructure bill?

I say again--

• Americans need the jobs.
• Our infrastructure famously needs the updating and improving.
• And the economy needs the boost.

It should be a no-brainer.

Senator Roy Blunt?

Will you lead on this, sir?

The GOP, Their Leadership In Congress and Where We Go From Here

I love this article

GOP leaders staring at cliffs

Boehner, McConnell have big plans and big obstacles.

I'll cut to the chase, so to speak. Of the entire article, this is the part that intrigues and involves me most:

The highway trust fund will become insolvent in May, and federally funded infrastructure projects across America will grind to a halt if nothing is done. Congress will have to work out a new funding mechanism — the gas tax has not been raised since 1993, and fuel-efficient cars have steadily decreased its buying power. Raising the tax is politically difficult, so Boehner, McConnell and the transportation chairmen will have to work out another funding mechanism — or turn to another unpopular general fund bailout, rather than risk a construction shutdown.

This Highway Trust Fund needs so much money it's beyond thought. Our infrastructure needs so much attention. We have so many highways, bridges and airports and so much infrastructure that needs reworking and improving and updating, it's nearly staggering.

Fortunately and rather ironically, we're at a time when, not only do all these things need so much attention but with oil per barrel and per gallon, at the pump, is so low, it would seem it's the perfect time to increase this gas tax so we can fund this infrastructure and so, the country and our commerce.

It used to be government representatives would legislate and act for the betterment and best of the nation, of the country. But as we've seen of particularly the Republican Party in the last few decades at least and especially since our current president was elected, they legislate and put their party first, country be damned.

And that's where we are today.

What should be easy and intelligent legislation for the country and for the people becomes complicated and difficult, if not impossible, for these people. Their biggest fear is that this president would be successful and so, that they might suffer. 

It used to be if the country was successful, that was your goal in government, no matter your position. Not so now. These people are downright fearful that, should President Obama be successful, should the US profit and grow during this time frame, they would be hurt. The last thing they want is to come close to doing anything, anything whatever, that would create a second Franklin Roosevelt. They never forgot the lesson of FDR and the Great Depression. He was successful and what did that get them?  They were out of favor with the voters for at least 40 years.

So screw you, America. The Republican Party must come first. 

If you're still here after all this, once they're finally back in the White House, then they might consider doing something for you. Something for Mr. and Mrs. Working Man and Woman of the nation. 

Like a jobs bill.

Or like the infrastructure needed to make the nation work.

A Jobs/Infrastructure Bill From This Do-Nothing Congress

Contact your Congressional representatives in the House and Senate, both. Tell them to write, propose and pass a good, true, strong jobs/infrastructure bill and as soon as possible. Americans and America need the jobs, the infrastructure needs the improvements and updates and the economy needs the boost. Thank you, in advance.

What this do-nothing Congress ought to do

First things first, Congress needs to fully fund the Highway Trust Fund before it runs out of money in a few weeks, in August. Our highways, bridges and the like need enough attention already. That they haven't seen to this piece of work, either, is completely irresponsible.

Then, after that, they need to write, propose and pass a jobs/infrastructure bill so we can repair all that infrastructure, coast to coast, and help get America back to work at the same time.

Great article from the Star brings up questions about jobs and our legislators

The article in the Star this past Sunday was, I thought, an excellent, timely one and one that raises excellent questions: 

 

The road to ruined roads

Oil-rich Texas has built more highways and bridges than any other state, but over the next two decades it will fall $170 billion short of what it needs to keep the sprawling network in good repair. 

California transportation officials estimate that 60 percent of the state’s roads and a quarter of its bridges need repairing or replacing, at a projected cost of $70 billion over a decade, some $52 billion more than the available funds.

Over seven years, Kansas went from spending three times as much on highway upkeep as it did on building new roads to devoting four times as much money for construction as for maintenance. Missouri, meanwhile, shifted its spending heavily toward repairs but saw its outstanding bond debt quadruple.

And it has plenty of great, even important information in it but the question it raises, I think, for us, in general, but also for our governmental legislators from the state level, in Jefferson City, all the way to Washington and our Congressional leaders, is this:

We needs jobs in the nation. We need work. We need work for our people, our citizens. Our infrastructure needs repairing, improving and updating.

Why is not our government creating this work so we create these jobs?

I've asked this here before, specifically as it relates to Interstate 70 from St. Louis and the Illinois border to the East, all the way to Kansas City and the Kansas border in the West.

We need this. 

Why isn't this happening?

More here:  U.S. keeps building new highways while letting the old ones crumble

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/search_results/?q=the%20road%20to%20ruins#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/02/4045803/us-keeps-building-new-highways.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Exit ramps that don't work in town

Exit ramps in the metropolitan area that are far, far overdue for reworking and updating because there are far too many cars that need to access them now:

First up--I-35 North to 635 North, especially during rush hour. It backs up for miles. Insane.

Next up--I-435 West (in Johnson County, KS--OP) to I-35 South. Another one-liner. Far backed up.

And for that matter, I-435 South to I-35 South--the same intersection. It all dumps into the same line. Crazy.

Third--I-435 South on the East side of the city, by the stadiums, to I-70 East. A famous long line either during rush hour or anywhere near a Royals baseball or Chiefs football game. Crazy lines and out-and-out dangerous, at times.

These three, at least, need updating, widening, hopefully, and improving, for safety and the good flow of traffic. It can add to productivity, too.

I'm not holding my breath.

Notes on driving around the city last evening

Three notes:

--First, it seems clear--very clear--that the state of Missouri got a whole lot of things done on I-435 and I-70 in order to spruce it up prior to Major League Basevall's All Star Game that's coming up shortly. It's wider, smoother, painted and nearly completely ready to go. Kudos to all involved.

--Second, I cannot begin to understand who thought up the new interchange at I-435 and Front Street.

Wow. Just wow.

A "roundabout" like they have in Europe and that we've imitated now, here in the States, has nothing on the zig-zag that this intersection has going on. When you're driving it, you're not quite sure where it's going and you're following all the signs you can, just to make sure you're in the right place.

--Finally, I can't be certain but I believe the least expensive gas in town right now is $3.29 per gallon at the Flying J truck stop at said same I-435 and Front Street exit.

Just good luck to you navigating that thing.

Yikes.

Now, keep cool out there today.

A desperate note to our representatives in Washington and Jefferson City

This "desperate note" goes out today to both our US senators--Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill--and to every state and national representative whose districts cover Interstate 70, from St. Louis to Kansas City.

Here's the deal.

We need jobs.

We need more business.

We need a good, strong, working economy.

You know this. We know this.

We want it. We all agree.

What we don't necessarily agree on is how we get there.

What I'm proposing today is how we do that--how we get to a good, stronger, working, healthier economy.

The answer is suggested here, in this column from The New York Times (along with other posts here, from this blogger):

Repairing Roads Can End All Kinds of Gridlock

(It's a great article. You ought to check it out, if you can. Link at bottom).

And the heck of it is, we have the prime candidate to repair right here in our own state in our own I-70 from, again, St. Louis to Kansas City.

Let's be honest here, I70 is one narrow, dangerous, outdated, even deadly stretch of road, all across Missouri. It needs to be repaired and widened desperately. And as soon as possible.

Precious little is being done about it out of Missouri's state capitol right now, too. Nothing is to happen until next year, when they reconvene and even then, they will only be voting to begin a study on its improvements.

In the meantime, we're both going slower across the state and--worst of all--people are being killed due to the narrow, unsafe conditions. It's fact.

This would help the state both in jobs, in the shorter term, and better transportation, in the longer.

The benefits are many.

And not only would people here in Missouri benefit but every American and visitor who travels that road would benefit in safety and speed so it's not a totally state-selfish request here.

We need this. We need I70 widened and improved for all the right reasons.

It needs to happen sooner, rather than later.

People in Jefferson City and Washington should be making this happen.

Senators? Would you maybe take the lead here?

Please?

In return, I also propose that maybe we name I-70 from Columbia to St.Louis the "Senator Roy Blunt Memorial Highway" and from Columbia to Kansas City, the "Senator Claire McCaskill Memorial Highway."

But that's only if you work together on this.

As you should, anyway.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/business/road-repairs-can-end-political-gridlock-economic-view.html?_r=1&ref=barackobama

Inaction from Jeff City

The latest from Jefferson City on I-70 and the much-needed and too-often-neglected and forgotten improvements that vital thoroughfare in the state needs:

Missouri Senate chooses I-70 highway study over toll roads

It's disgusting.

Instead of actually doing something about I-70 and the dangerous, far-too-small nightmare it is, our Jefferson City legislature has set something up to "study" it.

Yeehaw.

That'll help.

Not.

I say here again, surely there can be no bigger or more important issue for our State and even Federal legislatures than to widen and make more safe this freeway.

It would make all who use it safer, it could help facilitate more and better business in the state, it effects virtually every Missourian in the state--and many people in the nation each year--and finally, it could help create some jobs in the state, if even temporary.

Instead, we get inaction from Jefferson City and our legislatures.

Instead, we get a "study."

Thanks, Missouri Legislators.

For nothing.

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/03/3592312/missouri-senate-chooses-i-70-highway.html

No urgency on I-70 from anywhere

The Pitch Magazine and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report that "I-70 will remain toll-free for another year." It seems Jefferson City just hasn't gotten it together to decide how to fix this most-vital artery in the state. Our Senators in Washington don't seem to be especially fighting for any additional federal moneys and the statehouse can't decide if we can do a toll road without asking the state voters for the okay. In the meantime, what remains is a terribly dangerous, nearly murderous highway that needs expanding horribly.

It would add a great deal to the safety of the citizens of the state and to the safety of any out-of-staters that use it. It would also add to good commerce in the state, really, whether you're crossing it in your car for a meeting or you drive an 18-wheeler daily. The lack of attention this I-70 matter is getting is appalling. For any business people who drive it, especially as it courses through Columbia, as a worst-case scenario, you can usually always see a horrible car wreck of two or more cars because it slows down and meanders through what has become the center of that city.

The two lanes offered, in each direction, are far too narrow, especially with the heavy tractor-trailer traffic it gets. Bad as that all is, check this one out from the Pitch: "Even if tolls were approved, MoDOT estimates that it would be two years before construction could begin and six to eight years before the project would be finished." That's horrible.

We are years away from even starting the process and many years from completion. In the meantime, seriously, people are going to be killed because our Jefferson City government representatives have been unresponsive to the needs of the citizens. This is inexcusable. It's gone on far too long and there's still no end in sight to the foot-dragging. Somebody needs a good, swift kick in the pants.

Links: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/04/24/i-70-will-remain-toll-free-for-another-year; http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/interstate-toll-proposal-hits-roadblock/article_fdeb11ac-d575-5d51-96c6-de82b4ce4757.html#ixzz1sq6HWLFn; http://moravings.blogspot.com/2011/12/face-it-i-70-will-be-toll-road-one-day.html

You almost can't believe the transportation bill the Republicans want to pass in Congress right now

This is one ugly, irresponsible, even ignorant piece of legislation. They're trying to cut funding for transportation projects, Amtrak, defer "much-needed bridge and tunnel maintenance" and a lot more. Read the article linked here, showing ten reasons this shouldn't pass--then email your legislator: http://www.cartalk.com/content/10-reasons-hate-transportation-bill. Here in Northwest Missouri, it's Sam Graves.

Open note to Senator Roy Blunt

Senator Roy Blunt has this on his Facebook page today: Had a good conversation with Rob Bluey at the Heritage Foundation about the Obama Administration’s violation of Americans’ religious freedoms. I’d appreciate your feedback – what do you think about this rule? To which I say, jobs, Senator, jobs. Focus. You and the Republican Party. Anyway, supposedly the Republican Party is about "small government." If so, why are you and all your fellow political party members so interested in controlling a woman's--or a couple's--personal, reproductive rights? Get out of their bedroom, Senator. Get us some jobs legislation. I-70, for instance, needs to be rebuilt from St. Louis to Kansas City. THAT would be excellent for jobs, the economy and commerce. This whole protest by the Right Wing, the Catholics and the Republican Party is "much ado about nothing."

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Face it, I-70 will be a toll road one day

Sure, let's face it now. Missouri hasn't got the big money--billions?--it will take to make I-70 the safer highway it needs to be. That and we're in the worst economy in 80 years, since the Great Depression. What other choice does the Department of Transportation have? Answer: none. It's only a matter of time. They'll have to get us all ready to accept it but, after that, it's fast-forward. Get over it. Link: http://www.landlinemag.com/Archives/2004/Dec04/news/states_tolls.htm

On the US, "heroes" and our non-functioning systems

From yesterday's New York Times Sunday Review section: "As the national narrative shifts from the war on terror to the specter of decline, the uniform performs another psychic function. The military is can-do, the one institution — certainly the one public institution — that still appears to work. The schools, the highways, the post office; Amtrak, FEMA, NASA and the T.S.A. — not to mention the banks, the newspapers, the health care system, and above all, Congress: nothing seems to function anymore, except the armed forces. They’re like our national football team — and undisputed champs, to boot — the one remaining sign of American greatness." --William Deresiewicz, essayist, critic and author of "Solitude and Leadership", an address delivered at West Point in 2009 and widely taught in the armed forces. Link to original post: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/opinion/sunday/americas-sentimental-regard-for-the-military.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=our+sentimental+regard+for+soldiers&st=nyt