Somewhat unbelievably, a year from now on Tuesday, Nov. 4, we will elect a new president of these United States.
Prior to that election, the presidential candidates will almost certainly face a series of nationally televised debates that focus the country's attention as it heads to the ballot box. And if past experience is any indicator, too many of the questions from the well-groomed moderators will concern personality, scandal, or campaign missteps that in hindsight have little significance.
In our hope to influence the process, we here at RPA prepared a few questions that we would ask, if we had the chance. And who knows, perhaps the candidates would like to hear them and have a break from the usual fluff. Here they are:
- RPA Staff
Prior to that election, the presidential candidates will almost certainly face a series of nationally televised debates that focus the country's attention as it heads to the ballot box. And if past experience is any indicator, too many of the questions from the well-groomed moderators will concern personality, scandal, or campaign missteps that in hindsight have little significance.
In our hope to influence the process, we here at RPA prepared a few questions that we would ask, if we had the chance. And who knows, perhaps the candidates would like to hear them and have a break from the usual fluff. Here they are:
- What role should the federal government play in addressing the nation's underfunded infrastructure systems to position the United States for an anticipated 40 percent increase in population by 2050?
- What do you think of Felix Royhatyn and Warren Rudman's idea of creating a National Infrastructure Bank that would provide a mechanism for rating and funding large infrastructure projects that need attention?
- Given America's current and projected energy needs, what specific alternative energies/usage policies do you think we will need if oil supplies decline and prices continue to rise?
- Do you favor establishing a mode-neutral system of allocating transportation money that would subordinate rail, road and air travel to a set of objective and quantifiable list of benchmarks and goals? These goals might include economic development, open-space preservation, lessening climate change, promoting urban development, promoting home ownership, and others.
- Do you support investing substantially more in inter-city rail, through Amtrak or some other means, as an essential component of our national transportation system and an alternative to overcrowded airways and airports?
- As president, how would you balance states' rights with the federal leadership necessary to tackle challenges that do not respect state borders including climate change, mobility and landscape preservation?
- What should the federal role be in protecting local drinking water and other natural resources, given our expected growth in population and in the amount of land consumed for urban uses? Do you favor creating more partnerships to protect these landscapes, as is being done with the four-state Highlands Conservation Act and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan? Are you willing to provide full funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to pay for these efforts?
- What steps would you take to revitalize flagging urban centers and persistent urban poverty, which exist in many areas despite the comeback of some prominent cities? How would these approaches mesh with other priorities you have?
- RPA Staff
@RegionalPlan
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