One of the few good uses of massive government spending, besides defense, is infrastructure. But defense spending raises inflation; it pumps huge money into the economy, but the goods and services it creates can't be purchased, thus causing inflation. But to Obama's credit, the amount of money he is proposing to spend on infrastructure could lend a vastly beneficial impetus to the economy, and would probably not spike inflation.

And CERTAIN types of infrastructure spending may indeed, generate huge job growth, producing semi- permanent results that would resoundingly benefit the nation. The Hoover Dam and Golden Gate bridge are two New Deal projects (from the 1930's) that demonstrated that some government make-work programs can produce something of permanent benefit, because both became "game-changers."

Obama certainly has one thing right; if we don't update the infrastructure soon, our overripe roads, sewers and bridges will be rotten in less than a decade. But the president elect instead is favoring "shovel-ready" projects that require little planning or foresight. And the problem with this is, despite the huge sums of tax-payer money for repairing and refurbishing, the country will not realize anything resembling game-changing status, like a Hoover Dam or Golden Gate bridge.

 And because there's no permanence to Obama's strategy, it's sort of like renting an apartment vs. buying  one's own home. The nation will see little in return for its money, other than a mild boost to the local economies who do the repairs in that particular year.

And while were on the topic of infrastructure spending, why is no one discussing the idea of high-speed rail corridors? The bullet trains would relieve Interstate traffic congestion, and  would provide an alternative to car and air travel. Modern, high-speed rail travel would save time, gasoline, and jet fuel, and would go along with Obama's quest to make America more enegy efficient. And indeed, high speed rail would be a huge game changer, and transform the nation's travel modes in an eco-friendly way.

High-speed rail travel would be as much of a lifestyle changer upon our culture as the interstate highway system. It would be analogous to how the American economy exploded in the late 19th century, after the trans-continental train network was completed in 1869. Historically, it is indeed noteworthy that nearly all towns west of St. Louis, such as Las Vegas, were originally founded because of spurs or stops on the transcontinental railroad.

 And just as the exits off interstate highways sparked new suburbs and nearby commercial land development, high speed rail would generate at least a ten to twenty year boom in construction, engineering, and surveying jobs, all required in building out all the rail corridors and securing the right-of-ways.

Think about it...could there be any opposition against NOT having to travel jammed interstate highways between major cities? There'd be no longer a need to widen I-95 along the east coast. People could leave their cars at home. The road rage and time wasted in traffic jams would be supplanted by relaxing on a train, socializing, text messaging, laptop work, watching a movie, eating a quality meal, reading, or sightseeing out the windows at 130 mph. It sure beats flying and looking at cloud tops from a window seat. And there'd be no need to worry about clogged traffic, and getting flipped off by some foaming-at-the-mouth driver on the interstate.

High speed rail would have made sense for the U.S. twenty, thirty, or even fifty years ago. If we had placed high speed rail right-of-ways parallel to all the interstates built in the 50's and 60's, this nation would never have had an energy crisis. But the original intention of the interstates was for national defense (i.e. rapid military transport during wartime). No one could have conceived these highways would become so vital to travelers, commuters, and interstate commerce. If that had been assumed back then, they would've made the roadways 20 inches thick with concrete, and built the bridges with rust-resistant steel alloys.

And the benefits of high speed rail construction would be permanent. There'd be high-paying, skilled employment creation. We'd have steel and manufacturing jobs, railroad and construction jobs, engineering and technology employment. America would see a steel industry revival.

Also there would be a funding option: private venture capital instead of government money. People would buy tax-free construction bonds in the rail companies, like Burlington Northern, Chessie, B&O, and Norfolk Western.This worked well 150 years ago when the government granted Union pacific and Central Pacific the cheap land for the transcontinental railroad's right of ways, and it could work again.

And in this pricey energy era, besides passenger lines, what's more practical than high-speed FREIGHT TRAIN corridors spanning the nation? The benefits in time and diesel fuel saved, and the reduced damage to the interstate highway system from 40-ton trucks, would be enormous- possibly eliminating the need for the federal gas tax. Picture inter-modal, 100-car high speed freight trains, piggy-backing 200 semi-trailers across the country at 90-plus MPH ...how energy and time efficient would that be?

And what about the social benefits of passenger high speed rail travel? Today, Americans live in virtual self-imposed social isolation chambers. We no longer write letters, and largely converse through e-mail and text messages, preferring to let our cellphones and computers do the communicating for us, instead of actual interpersonal contact. America is becoming a society of individuals who prefer to be alone.

Now consider the social aspects of traveling by high speed rail, compared to the current horrific state of air travel. Flying today is an exercise in claustrophobia. You are not afforded much space or comfort, because of the need for airlines to cut costs. You are, in effect, imprisoned in your seat. So if the person sitting next to you has a chronic cough, or is wearing pungent cologne, or is downloading offensive porn on their pc, you cannot help thinking that, "maybe the Greyhound bus would have been better than sitting next to this creep."

Now picture traveling by high speed rail. You stretch out in comfort. You go to the coffee bar and relax with a latte, while you gaze out the window at the scenery whizzing by. You can sit by yourself, and work or read. Or, because of the social possibilities of train travel, you might even meet a significant other person, or someone who changes your life in a positive way, such as a new friend, or business associate. But the point is, on the train, you have the room to spread out and multi-task to your heart's content.

So are ya listening out there Mr. Obama ? Aren't you tired of the conservative pundits that say you're a government-loving, free-spending socialist ? Well then show 'em...you could be an actual maverick; you could be the "next Eisenhower", and praised as the president who pioneered the American network of high speed rail corridors, and returned the nation to economic prosperity!

So c'mon Mr. Obama...show the nation you really ARE a transformational president. But you must lead the initiative, and see to it that your administration actually gets everything off the ground and moving forward. Call it whatever you want...the next Apollo moon shot, or the next Manhattan project. Just co-opt the Nike slogan for your administration's new motto...just do it!