Recent Articles

How Do You Spell Budget And Disaster Relief?  N…I…B

An off-budget $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), along the lines of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) that operated between 1932-1957, means low-cost loans and no additions to the deficit.

An off-budget $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), along the lines of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) that operated between 1932-1957, means low-cost loans and no additions to the deficit.

The wave of natural disasters continues to batter the United States in the form of wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and heat domes. Money to deal with such horrific events is, effectively, no longer possible through the current budget processes at federal, state, county, tribal, port, and city levels. Nor can these government entities deal simultaneously with the chronic crises of housing, homelessness, decaying roads, collapsing bridges, electrical grid failures, lack of broadband service, deteriorating health care systems, outdated water treatment facilities… ad nauseam et ad infinitum.

As I have written about before (see RELATED LINKS below), bold moves must be taken, as was done by Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt with the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) during the worst of the Great Depression era. Even before Hoover and Roosevelt, other presidents, e.g., Washington, Adams, and Lincoln, seized on the idea of a public bank to successfully deal with the crises of their eras.  

“A revitalized Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) can effectively address today’s daunting challenges like it did during the Great Depression and World War II. The RFC rescued thousands of banks, businesses, homes and farms; stabilized the railroads; rebuilt communities after environmental calamities; built bridges, dams and aqueducts across the nation; and brought electricity and appliances to rural America. The RFC accomplished these gigantic feats during the Great Depression through judicious lending, not spending, and returned a profit to the government and its taxpayers while doing so” [ Source: To prevent economic disaster, Congress should resurrect the Great Depression-era RFC]

The means to bring us through the current crises are available, immediately. The $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank is, speaking frankly and in the vernacular, a “no-brainer.” HR 4052 (National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2023), with its 42 sponsors, is sitting right in front of Congress. Its passage will bring the necessary fiscal means to repair and replace our infrastructure while building for the future. Support is broad across the nation but more needs to be said through resolutions at the level of state legislatures, county and city councils, and other government entities such as port authorities. Awareness at these levels must come from citizens who inform their representatives of the existence of the legislation and the need for the off-budget infrastructure bank.  

HR 4052 is tantamount to a gift from Santa Claus. But even Santa needs his helpers. We can be helpers by sending a copy of this article (or a link to it) to our representatives at all levels of government, municipal to state to federal.  

Related Links

How Do You Spell Budget And Disaster Relief?  N…I…B

By Dick ConoboyOn Oct 27, 2024

An off-budget $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), along the lines of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) that operated between 1932-1957, means low-cost loans and no additions to the deficit.

VA Health Care for Life?  You Now May Be Eligible.

By Dick ConoboyOn Nov 01, 2024

Phasing in of Veterans Administration (VA) health care under the Pact Act has been eliminated. All eligible veterans can enroll in VA health care…NOW!

Medicare Advantage Open Season And YOU Are The $$$ Target

By Dick ConoboyOn Oct 23, 2024

Medicare Advantage is NOT Medicare. Medicare is there to provide health care. Medicare Advantage is a business, there to make money.

1 comment, most recent 1 week ago

An Overlooked Benefit of Improved Internet Access in Whatcom County: The U.S. Census

By David A. SwansonOn Oct 21, 2024

David Swanson verifies what Jon Humphrey has said for years: good internet access benefits people, cities, counties, and states.

10 comments, most recent 1 week ago

Minimum Wage - Farce or Tragedy?

By Dick ConoboyOn Oct 19, 2024

Or perhaps tragic farce or farcical tragedy might be more apt descriptors. Pick one, or both.

13 comments, most recent 1 week ago

The Big Ask

By NWCitizen ManagementOn Oct 16, 2024

After nearly 30 years online, and literally being one of the oldest blogs on the internet, Northwest Citizen needs a major programming overhaul. To do so, we need your help.

1 comment, most recent 2 weeks ago

The Disturbing Disappearance of Local Banks

By Guest WriterOn Sep 19, 2024

The top 20% of commercial banks in the United States control 95% of our total banking assets. Remember “Too-Big-to-Fail”?

3 comments, most recent 1 month ago

How To Get Nothing Done

By Jon HumphreyOn Aug 24, 2024

The City has created another useless document ensuring nothing changes and mediocre communication services are protected.

13 comments, most recent 1 month ago

You haven’t voted yet? Check out this idea for one of your votes.

By John ServaisOn Aug 05, 2024

Why a vote for Jason Call for Congress is a good vote for conservatives, liberals, Democrats and Republicans. Yes, an unusual idea.

First Murray. Now Larsen. Half Trillion Dollar Theft From Medicare: Not An Issue.

By Dick ConoboyOn Jul 27, 2024

Heaven forbid our reps should attack the main problem, Medicare Advantage, head on. But no. They must nibble around the edges to give the appearance of doing something.

1 comment, most recent 3 months ago

Moral Injury Links Medicare Advantage Physicians To Combat Veterans

By Dick ConoboyOn Jun 16, 2024

Morally significant double binds force doctors and combat soldiers into identical life and death quandaries, damaging their moral centers. To these two groups we can also add law enforcement officers.

4 comments, most recent 4 months ago

Over A Half Trillion Dollars Stolen From Medicare - Sen. Patty Murray Is OK With That

By Dick ConoboyOn Jun 14, 2024

It is time to stop the “Real Steal” from Medicare.

3 comments, most recent 4 months ago

Nooksack Adjudication vs. State Water Law?

By Eric HirstOn Jun 14, 2024

Eric Hirst gives us a brief and clear explanation of the water adjudication process that is beginning now in Whatcom County

3 comments, most recent 3 months ago

The Scrap Heap - The Real Message

By David Netboy On Jun 12, 2024

Aggressive citizen involvement carried the day.

5 comments, most recent 4 months ago

The Wealth Of Real Estate Corporations Is Not Our Purpose For Being

By Guest WriterOn Jun 11, 2024

Build-for-profit, incarceration-inspired housing is destroying our souls.

11 comments, most recent 1 month ago

All Remaining ABC Scrap Metal Is On Ship

By John ServaisOn Jun 10, 2024

The last of the scrap metal is loaded on the ship and it will be gone from our town.

1 comment, most recent 4 months ago

A Walking Tour at the Core of the Explosion

By John ServaisOn Jun 10, 2024

A 54-photo tour of the ruptured pipe area of the Whatcom Creek explosion taken in July 1999.

1 comment, most recent 4 months ago

The Audio of the Pipeline Explosion

By John ServaisOn Jun 08, 2024

Below is an audio tape of 911 calls, emergency responders’ radio communications, and local radio coverage from June 10, 1999 when Whatcom Creek exploded in Bellingham

2 comments, most recent 4 months ago

Court Process for Defining Whatcom Water Rights Begins

By Guest WriterOn Jun 03, 2024

Whatcom County’s confusing water rights will be defined by court proceedings beginning now

1 comment, most recent 4 months ago

Memorial Day 2024 - Remembering My Friends

By Dick ConoboyOn May 25, 2024

If not killed-in-action, they are still dying from the effects of their service in Vietnam.

7 comments, most recent 5 months ago