A Merry Christmas “if list”

To The Eagle:

 Ground breaking for the Empire State Building was in January, 1930 and ribbon-cutting took place in May, 1931, six months early and 30 percent under estimated cost. We used to build dams, bridges, skyscrapers and other immense projects in mere months from drawing board to completion. Now, building anything requires conferences, studies, a gazillion permits, and numerous lawsuits if the construction’s construed to threaten a three-toed toad or spotted spoonbill, or violate any of 347,288 (give or take) obscure and obtuse regulations. Engineering considerations are now political policy footballs to be kicked around endlessly (mindlessly?). Here’s a techie “if list” to append Ben Elkinton’s “what if list” of last week:

 If we had built 300 nuclear power plants as planned in the 1970’s, power would be cheap (virtually free), and we would be power exporters.

 If we had drilled oil and gas wells and built refineries to match, gas and gasoline would be inexpensive, and we would be net exporters with reserves for hundreds of years.

 If we had developed catchment water systems in the northwest and northeast, potable water in those areas would be both plentiful and cheap.

 If we had built a low-tech fence along the Mexican border we’d have made immigration enforcement simpler and safer, and avoided the heartbreaking problem of sorting out all the “undocumented.”

 If all schoolyards were fenced, with modest security measures in place, school shootings would be far less likely, and all the mindless jabber about gun control avoided.

 If the World Trade Towers had been lined with asbestos to the top (it was outlawed halfway up), the towers would not have burned to collapse, and thousands more would have survived 9/11.

 If I had gotten that international airport built on Puget Island, Riverview Restaurant would be open, Hotel Cathlamet overflowing, and Wahkiakum County at full employment. Merry Christmas!

Howard Brawn

Puget Island