297,000×5,000,000 = $1,485,000,000,000 1.5 trillion (over 10 years, so $150 billion per year) to bury all power lines and allow access to update all infrastructure (including replacing lead pipes, etc) and easily connect all homes to reliable fiber optic Internet and forcing competion for Internet providers honestly doesn't seem like that high of a cost. I bet it would pay for itself within the following decade. Thats not even 1/4 of our annual defense budget... Though I guess you'd have to pay for the fiber optic cabling as well, but that probably wouldn't add much to the cost.
In the Los Angeles area, cost to cover basic needs for emergencies ( Fire, Earthquakes, Slides, Flood ) should take priority over any other cost.
Thats IF costs the were lowest predicted range without fault. You are using the lowest possible number. I used an average. I didn't even use the highest. How often do major projects like that come in under budget in our economy. Your post isn't realistic because of this. Mine is, because it is an average. I guess we will have to agree to disagree with this. I believe the costs will not pay for themselves but cause larger costs.
For a lot less money, NASA could orbit a satellite to channel solar energy to salt huge rain clouds only within the California borders, while also providing free Blazer coverage to all phones and computers only within the Oregon borders.
That's not really an average though. Because it can cost that much doesn't mean it costs that much half of the time. And how much of that cost is permitting which could be waived for a government project? How much of that cost would be saved by doing it during already scheduled road repair? There is very little doubt that the US government could afford this without blinking an eye.
Good to hear from you, Hawk! I've been good. I haven't said "Hack" in over 10 years, ever since you finally wrote how to pronounce it.
Been a lot of anxiety. Almost had to evacuate a few nights ago but I'm still here. Been to distracted to post here the past few days or so... Hope want LA folks are okay.
I advise those of you in Los Angeles to watch Blazer games. Soon you'll feel superior and arrogant again. Also, you need comedy right now.
I already explained some of the pitfalls. You took the lowest possible cost. Not realistic. I took the mean and split the lowest possible and the highest possible and did the math. It could cost more than i stated as easily as it could cost less. Power lines don't typically go in roads….that is the least cost effective way. This is largely why easements were developed. If power is run in the roads, every building needs a line, so now you have a mainline in the road and then a line at a 90 degree to ever building on both sides of the streets. Run the mainline on the side of the road and then you only need a line to each building on the other side of the street. Putting power in the road would not work in many areas. Sewer and gas are already there. There are easement spacing requirements and depth requirements. When roads are repaired, they tear up the top layer of asphalt and leave the others. Even if they went down to dirt to repair, it is still not digging into the ground in 95% of road repair cases. I do not believe what you are suggesting is accurate at all.
