Forget Infrastructure: Think Carports

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I was just reading in the NY Times that the government is planning a $5 BILLION bailout for auto-parts suppliers / manufacturers, and it hit me: architects need to stop worrying about getting in on infrastructure projects [there are only going to be so many of those], or tax help for developers’ shovel ready projects. Instead, we need to get in on these sprawling auto industry bailouts – since cars [or the auto lobbyists] are apparently the most important thing to US government.

For instance – why not build new plants? New auto employee recreational facilities? New homes for all the execs, who are laughing at us for being chumps [behind closed doors, of course]?

But really, even that is just thinking too small. What we most obviously need, requiring the construction industry, is new carports to protect our new national investments! If so much of our tax money [and, frankly, the money of our children, and maybe grandchildren at this rate] is going to go to all the different parts of the auto industry – so that they can produce cars that we don’t need and nobody can afford right now, just to employ workers – then I demand money go to architects, designers, and contractors to build beautiful, water-resistant homes for all these cars we’ll be manufacturing. I mean, let’s face it – there’s no demand for these new whips. And since that’s the case, and we’re throwing all economic theory to the wind here – I think it’s only right that we get in on the action and build something useful, protecting our multi-billion dollar national investment from the elements.

Plus, the carports could have re-sale value – think of how many we could sell to China and India at some point.

Posted: March 19th, 2009
at 5:48pm by orangemenace


Categories: architecture,my ninja, please,employment

Comments: 3 comments



 

3 Responses to 'Forget Infrastructure: Think Carports'

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  1. LMAO…

    “…and Governor Patrick pushed his plan on capitol hill today, hoping to raise parking at carports by 13 cents, bumping the daily rate to $1600. Republican opposition was outraged at the prospect, citing the lack of reasonable material improvements being made to the carports within ten years, under this plan.”

    OckRock

    19 Mar 09 at 5:53 pm

     

  2. the sarcasm here is obvious, but actually…there is an opportunity. Plug-in hybrids will mean something quite different for ‘vehicle storage’ – automobiles that charge and assist facilities through these portals. creating well-designed, cost effective (clean) ‘energy centers’ – modules for home/workplace – could create an opportunity for the energy savvy designer.

    ReCYCLE

    23 Mar 09 at 2:48 pm

     

  3. Very true – we’ll need to re-design fueling stations to feed the beasts.

    I guess my point, sarcasm aside, is that our government / society is obsessed with getting us to buy cars – cars which, in reality, should last us long enough that they shouldn’t be consumed at such a rapid rate.

    For instance: there’s nothing super ‘green’ about hybrid cars. They’re still dependent on oil, first and foremost. But more importantly, we’ll have to build [consuming resources, and polluting and all that] these new cars and/or the ‘upgrade’ kits [if such a thing is even possible, to ‘upgrade’ a car to a hybrid]. They’ll still just be cars.

    It also keeps the same people in power, financially. A slow move, subsidized by taxpayers, to these bullshit hybrid technologies keeps the Big 3 in business and on top – and keeps the oil lobby happy by keeping things partially dependent on oil [meanwhile, there isn’t even actually enough oil left to sustain that industry without us going hybrid, lets be real].

    So, while obviously sarcastic, this post is about the absolutely feckin absurdity of this country helping any car companies at all, regardless of their goal [it could run on love, I’d be against taxpayer money going to it]. I quite literally believe bailing out Detroit is as unintelligent as building car ports for all the new cars.

    Sorry to jump all over your ass here, ReCYCLE – you’re point is valid, and will probably turn out to be the case. It’s just that the idea that cars that run on something other than oil is revolutionary is incredibly frustrating. The US auto industry killed the electric car in the 90s, after a gasoline-free solution was proven. They also helped destroy what little light rail we had in this country, and the train system in general – which are projects that our tax money should actually be going to.

    orangemenace

    23 Mar 09 at 3:16 pm

     


 

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