Debating the infrastructure bill

Following up on the Senate’s earlier action, the House of Representatives’ passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill that will help repair our nation’s roads and bridges as well as improve broadband and modernize our water supply system is indeed welcome news ["Biden hails bill as ‘monumental step forward,’ " News, Nov. 7].

It shows that Congress, working along with the president, can still enact legislation that will have a beneficial impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans.

Nevertheless, media commentators were quick to mention that the Democratic leadership in the House had missed many of its self-imposed deadlines for the passage of this legislation. That’s true, and it’s likely this bill is not perfect. But a little perspective is useful.

This bill to be signed by President Joe Biden in the 11th month of his administration is a lot better than former President Donald Trump’s much promised but undelivered "infrastructure week" that never filled a pothole, lengthened a runway or made a bridge more secure.

— Chuck Cutolo, Westbury

Progressivism is socialism in disguise. This $1.2 trillion Democratic bill is a boondoggle. How long does it take to pay off $1 trillion at a million dollars a day?

It would take 1,000 days to pay off $1 billion at $1 million per day. It would take 1,000 days to pay off $1 trillion at $1 billion per day. Therefore, it would take 1,000 times 1,000 days, or 1 million days to pay off $1 trillion at $1 million per day. This is roughly equal to 2,740 years. That is assuming there is no interest on the principal.

President Joe Biden   proclaims this is a free ride for Americans, except no one living today will be alive at the payoff date. All of our future generations, however, will bear the enormous burden of payback.

— Roy Willis, Massapequa

For decades, while arriving at the antiquated Kennedy Airport terminal and retrieving bags from the rickety carousel; riding the state-of-despair and in-urgent-need-of-repair city subways; and traveling on the crumbling bridges, cratered roads and interstates, and ill-kept tunnels, I may be one of many New Yorkers who hoped for some developmental miracle to happen, not only in the city but across America.

Party politics aside, I don’t care who’s progressive or not in Congress. What I care about, and I’m confident many would join me, is rooting for tangible and sustainable early improvements in our infrastructure ["What NY state would get from $1.2T bill," News, Nov. 7].

I’m glad the long-overdue $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is finally a reality after a lot of wrangling. However, the biggest challenge still lies in unrolling it and putting it to work without obstruction where the results are visible on a daily basis.

— Atul M. Karnik, Woodside

It is wonderful to know that our roads, rails, airports, drinking water, etc., will benefit from many of the projects that this bill addresses.

I also read that Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), my congressman, did not vote for the bill. I had called his office and spoken with an aide, communicating my strong desire that he vote in favor of the bill.

Since Zeldin is running for governor, we need to ask why he voted against making New York better when his other Long Island Republican colleague, Rep. Andrew Garbarino of Bay Shore, voted in favor of it.

— Sandy Cohen, Hauppauge

Congress has been wrestling for months over spending trillions of dollars of the voters’ tax money. I believe most people can agree that our roads, bridges and other infrastructure need to be improved.

The incompetent lunacy of the entire process lies in the fact that the vast majority of these politicians will have likely voted without even reading most of the bills.

Is there a single Newsday reader who would buy a home and spend one’s own money without reading the contract or hiring a lawyer and inspector?

I suggest that we voters consider more carefully who we elect to Congress to represent us. Voting without fully knowing exactly what is in a spending bill is irresponsible. And shameful.

Perhaps this is just one example of why Congress’ approval rating is so low.

— Rich Adrian, Huntington

Let’s stop turning back the clocks

It’s commendable that the Suffolk County police are increasing patrols after we’ve turned back the clocks ["Suffolk police to add patrols after fall time change," News, Nov. 6]. Why don’t we just stop daylight saving time? Arizona and Hawaii don’t have it, and it works for them. It is outdated.

With an expected increase in crashes during the change, it would probably save lives and is long overdue. Maybe we can put it up to vote next election.  

— Carol Walsh, St. James