If we’re going to spend a trillion dollars “stimulating” the economy, can we at least think outside the twentieth century?

As the government gets serious about debating a package intended to create jobs through infrastructure projects, all the ideas seem suspiciously familiar. It’s all about more highways, instead of truly sustainable cities, with local food and energy supplies, jobs closer to home, etc. 

A trillion dollars should be occasion to re-imagine our economy, perhaps as one which makes simpler living possible, or at least less costly, this is a big disappointment in the works. Highways create jobs, sure. But they also function as rivers, making it impossible to move around on human-powered machines (bikes or feet).

If we cannot imagine going to the grocery store, or to our jobs, without getting behind the wheel, we’re probably just going to continue with inefficient and wasteful lifestyles for decades to come.

[photo credit: Chicago, Illinois by sxc.hu user igowerf]