Topic Intro

1. Topic Intro Transportation Infrastructure

2. Resolution • Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase itstransportation infrastructure investmentin the United States.

3. United States Federal Government • Refers to: • 3 branches of the government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) • NOT the state or local governments • The agent that enacts the proposed policy • Based on the above, when you are coming up with AFFIRMATIVE arguments throughout the year, what’s one of the most important things to keep in mind?

4. United States federal Government • Answer: The affirmative plan has to be something only the USFG can do and has the jurisdiction/authority to do. • In contrast to last year’s Space Topic, this year’s topic is purely domestic. This means that negative teams won’t read as many international actor counterplans (ex: China, Russia) but are more likely to read domestic-actor plans (ex: 50 States, Supreme Court). • Why do you think this is true?

5. its • Why is this 3 letter word significant for the topic as a whole?

6. A few examples… • Which of the following hypothetical affirmative plans do you think are topical (meaning, they propose a policy that falls under the umbrella of the topic as a whole)? • #1. The United States federal government should increase funding to improve high speed railroads in the United States. • #2. The United States federal government should increase funding to improve Germany’s autobahn. • #3. The United States Department of Transportation should increase funding for the operability of public mass transit systems. • #4. The 50 United States should increase funding to improve interstate highways.

7. Transportation Defined • an act, process, or instance of transporting or being transported • : banishment to a penal colony • a : means of conveyance or travel from one place to another • b : public conveyance of passengers or goods especially as a commercial enterprise • http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transportation • Transportation Sector: Consists of both private and public passenger and freight transportation, as well as government transportation, including military operations. • http://www.transportation-dictionary.org/transportation_sector

8. Infrastructure Defined • The basic physical systems of a country's or community's population, including roads, utilities, water, sewage, etc. These systems are considered essential for enabling productivity in the economy. Developing infrastructure often requires large initial investment, but the economies of scale tend to be significant http://www.investorwords.com/2464/infrastructure.html) • An underlying base or foundation especially for an organization or system. • The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons. • http://www.thefreedictionary.com/infrastructure

9. Infrastructure Defined • The Council established by P.L. 98-501 provided yet another definition of infrastructure and included nine categories of systems in its analyses: highways, streets, roads, and bridges; airports and airways; public transit; intermodal transportation (the interface between modes); water supply; wastewater treatment; water resources; solid waste; and hazardous waste services. These categories, the Council said, have strong links to economic development and generally have a tradition of public sector involvement. Facilities have high fixed costs and long economic lives. Taken as a whole, according to the Council, the services that they provide “form the underpinnings of the nation’s defense, a strong economy, and our health and safety.” • http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL31556.pdf

10. Transportation Agencies/Dpts. • Let’s see how many U.S. Department of Transportation Agencies/Departments you can guess! • Department of Transportation • Who is Ray LaHood?

11. Transportation infrastructure • Obama promoted improvements in transportation infrastructure in his 2011 State of the Union Address • Can you think of areas that could be included under “transportation infrastructure”?

12. Transportation Infrastructure • Areas that may be considered “transportation infrastructure”: • Public Transportation • -high speed rail (people) • -mass transit systems (subways, buses) • Improving existing / building new “means” of transportation • -highways • -bridges • -bike lanes

13. Transportation Infrastructure • Transportation / Distribution of Energy • -oil pipelines • -LNG (liquid natural gas) • -hydrogen • -energy grids • Transportation of Goods • -high speed rail (freights to move “things”) • -postal system

14. Transportation Infrastructure • Transportation of Drinking Water & Waste • -clean water • -sewage • -nuclear waste (ex: Yucca Mountain) • -E-waste (electronic) • Water Transportation • -port security (points where goods and people enter/exit the U.S.)

15. Transportation Infrastructure • Air Transportation • -airports • -launch vehicles for outer space • Transportation of Information • -broadband Internet

16. Investment • What does it mean to invest? • In the context of the USFG (United States federal government), what do you think investment means?

17. Investment • The word “investment” in the resolution dictates the MECHANISM the affirmative’s plan must use. What is a mechanism?

18. In the United States • Why do you think this phrase was included at the end of the resolution? What is its purpose?