Why does it take so long to build infrastructure in America?

Question

In China if they want to build a highway, they just build it. If they want to build a bridge- it is built quickly. If they want to tear down old homes for economic development, the homes are gone in weeks and new skyscrapers are built.

Here in America we are so slow when it comes to building public buildings and infrastructure. We study it for years, have a hundred public hearings, revise the plans for ever and then fight it in court forever and maybe 20 years later the new highway is built. In the mean time the economy and quality of life is ruined because it took so long.

Why can't we just be more like China and have a sense of urgency?

Answer 1

If you rather be like China, then you don't know China. China is a Communist government that they do what ever they want and also very corrupt. Some of these structures are very unsafe and they had many accidents because of this. Here in the USA we have a system that even though is not perfect it is better than the one in China or most of the world. I think only Japan could compete with us in this matter.

Answer 2

If it's worth having, it is worth doing right....then comes the

Minneapolis Bridge...makes one think, doesn't it!?

Answer 3

Wel now, currently in China when they build they are paying for it with our money from our trade defecet.

The reasons it takes so long here is Open bidding for the projects.

And all these little and big Corporations both public and private must micro manage every square inch to get their share of the project dollar.

Answer 4

Or a sense of Communism? No thanks...

Answer 5

We have property rights.  China is Communist.  All property ownerships are subject to the whims of the State.

Answer 6

China has no labour unions. China is not paralyzed into inaction by a desire to prevent every hang-nail. China. China has contracted the construction of much of her infrastructure to foreign firms. China does not have a debilitating number of environmental laws inhibiting development.

Answer 7

You would probably wanna have those hearing if they were tearing down your house to put in the road or sky scraper.

China can move more quickly on things like that now as their infastucture is not as developed as ours

In a developed area figuring out if a new big project is going to be a benifit or a handicap takes careful consideration

Is what you are putting in going to be more productive and better for the citizens than what is allready there?

In many areas in China, new = better

In the US that is not always the case