Smaller government in action

We all know about the billions of dollars being shoveled into Iraq, much of it into the hands of unaccountable private contractors.

Here at home, our basic infrastructure is falling apart:

It would cost at least $140 billion to repair all the nation's bridges if work began immediately, a nationwide safety organization said in a comprehensive report Monday.

"States simply cannot keep up with bridge maintenance," the report warns, adding that 73 percent of U.S. road traffic -- and 90 percent of truck traffic -- travels over state-owned bridges.

Nearly one in four bridges needs repairs, and the average age of America's bridges is 43 years -- seven years shy of the maximum age for which most are designed, according to the report, titled "Bridging the Gap."

One in five U.S. bridges is more than 50 years old, the report says.

And yet there is little sense of urgency on Capitol Hill to do anything about it. Last Thursday the House passed legislation that would provide $1 billion for bridge repair -- barely a fraction of the amount needed. And yet this same Congress has given blank checks for Iraq for five years. I often wonder why so much lip service is given to "national defense" and almost none given to having something to defend.

UPDATE: From the "Great Minds Think Alike" file, Joshua Holland has more on our crumbling infrastructure.