Things that we as a State need to think about: Part II. Economy

My second suggestion deals with the economy of our State. We can no longer avoid the ongoing growth of various sectors in our Delaware; we must embrace it. More commercial growth ensures that those who travel beyond our borders have an economic motivation to come back. Commercial growth, whether it is pharmaceutical, financial, transactional, communication related, research oriented, or simply the next Microsoft looking for its Redmond should look at our Delaware first, and a serious outreach toward fostering this economic developmental growth needs to occur. Our infrastructure and developers can support it, our citizenship will embrace it, and its success will sustain us for the century to come. Urban and suburban planning, with an eye toward the constraints on education and our State generally, can help ensure that the growth occurs without blackening the eye of what distinguishes our Delaware. The effects of bringing such business to our State will minimally quadruple the current economic growth rate.

Stimulating our economy also requires a concurrent development of a massive jobs works program. Anybody who wants a job should be able to find one. I offer four suggestions.

I. Infrastructure
The first jobs works program would be to repave the entire State infrastructure with an asphalt-rubber composite. Such a task which would have several effects: the lifespan of the roadway would be 5-6 times longer than its current levels, and by the time the final road is finished, the original roads would need to be repaved and the effects would be for workers to have a sustained source of income. This technology also assists in solving the environmental dilemma of rubber tires and other refuse, both of which could be reduced because of the composite's composition. The federal government has begun rehabilitation of highways with similar technology; a thorough investigation in coordination with the Rubber Pavement Association’s Technological Advisory Board can determine its feasibility in our State.

II. Rail system
The second jobs works program would be to develop our rail system. Our State’s original economy and infrastructure rested on the rails; the time has come to revisit our roots. Reintegration and development of a massive public transportation system, beginning with the rails and increasing the utilization of the DART system, will stimulate the short and long term economy. The more efficient use of DART (including an increase in frequency throughout the State) and a new passenger train system like SEPTA would have lasting effects on educational transportation efficiency, tourism, and regular travel during the workweek and weekends. With regard to the train system, our economy will be stimulated by the massive number of workers needed to rebuild it as well as the persons required to run it. Developing an equitable and affordable travel cost and frequent travel times to all pertinent sectors of our State ensures that our Citizenry utilizes this source as primary to personal vehicles. Given the increase in fuel costs, we can all agree that a more economical transportation system must be developed, and it must be researched as a priority.

Another way that may accomplish the rail system in a more cost-effective manner would be to investigate the practicality and feasibility of dual mode vehicles. Japan's rail company appears to have perfected the technology; whether it translates over to American soil remains to be seen.

III. Fiber optics
The third jobs works program would be to develop the fiber optics system for our entire State. Doing so would grant every household in the State high speed internet, cable, and telecommunications compatible with forthcoming technology. A program in conjunction with the various telecommunication and electrical suppliers could be developed in such a way that every telephone wire and pole in the state could be removed and the technology placed underground. The aesthetic effect needs no explanation.

IV. Alternative energy creation
A fourth, but perhaps more lofty jobs works program, would have to be done in coordination with the Several States and the Federal Government. To increase our energy efficiency, research and development into geothermal, hydroelectric power through the underwater current system off our shoreline, or solar power could be investigated further as an alternative energy source. The latter may be the most realistic at this juncture, and all new housing developments could be adapted with the technology such that it could become affordable and economical for every other pre-existing housing sector in the State. Test markets could be imposed on our State buildings first, and the effect on the State’s electric bill will justify Statewide adoption.

I do note that the feasibility study with regard to wind power has been completed on a statewide scale and rejected; however, I'm surprised no private entrepreneur has thought about privatizing this for developments and exploiting the technology on a smaller scale for testing.