Another thing you younger readers may not know is that part of the reason for building the interstate system, the way it was built, was not only to move troops from one part of the country to the other in convoys quickly. The initial Federal mandate for the interstate system said, on average, for every 10 miles of interstate at least 1 mile of that must be clear of obstructions and flat. Do you know why?

So that the interstate system can also serve as runways for military aircraft.

We learned that from the Germans.

National defense and common interest.

That is not socialism. That is smart partnerships.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

The Interstate system turned 50 this year. I think we can all agree that airports, roads and a strong defense are legitimate functions of the Federal Government. Welfare, social programs and the multitudes of Guvment waste are inexcuseable. Let's keep our infrastructure strong and much of the rest will take care of itself.

My father worked on interstate highway design from 1935-43 and again from 1947-53. Eisenhower signed the bill that created the interstates in 1956 and certainly got the funding approved - largely because of the country's prosperity in the 1950's.

Roosevelt envisioned something like the interstates and got people like my father working on it in the middle of the Depression. This was one of his many "make work" projects to pull the country out of the Depression. It was a good idea, but delayed until Ike's time. Oddly, no one considered multiple lanes until the 1950's and even then they were considered a luxury until Ike sold the idea to Congress that wide interstates could be used as runways for airplanes - cold war hysteria for sure, but at least we started with 4 lanes.

One of the most intersting drawings he left behind was the alternative designs for crossing or getting around the Rocky Mountains - same challenge the railroad builders had a century before.

CCC, WPA and a lot of such programs impacted highways, dams and more. Roosevelt indeed was behind a lot of change.

Here is a bit of interesting history on roads and highways.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Yes, indeed Eisenhower was the architect and it was a wise idea. I agree--- federal funding of these local projects is dangerous. It not only creates a large Washington but if we had to pay for all these crappy little airports with local money we would look long and hard at whether or not we "needed" or "wanted" them.

Back to Ike....I think he would be concerned about Global Warming. Forget about the cause. Maybe it is not man. Maybe it is just cyclical. But it is happening. And if the changes cause resource shortages the result will not be invasions by 500,000 troops but nuclear war.

If you don't believe it, go on the DOD website and look at the study entitled "Imagining the Unthinkable."

Deny, deny, deny. The whole IRS is Socialistic and you know it. Social Security is Socialistic and you know it. The Oil Companies are Socialistic and you know it. The Federal Reserve is Socialistic and you know it. On and on. What we say out of our mouths about capitalism, stupid "vows" and so called "values" changes nothing. If individuals are left to fend for themself, in a true capitalistic democracy, about two generations will take them the way of the other failed civilizations, but for different reasons. The words are greed, and organized religion.