Rebuilding America

Susan Peterson7 said:How is it even possible that in the capital of a nation, building facades fall onto pedestrians, roads are so riddled with potholes that driving feels like an obstacle course, and the historic downtown is paved with nothing but dull gray asphalt? To top it all off, we see multi-million dollar restroom projects being commissioned while police officers seem to be stationed on every single corner. Now, they’re pushing ahead with this "Washington, D.C. Waterfront" project that is supposedly going to define the capital's aesthetic forever. Their grand plan? To erect these hideous concrete and metal blocks 🤦 instead of preserving beautiful buildings in the classic architectural style, complete with cozy cafes, tree-lined promenades, and bike paths—you know, the things that actually make a proper metropolitan city feel livable.

But I won't dwell solely on the utter neglect of the capital—which really should serve as the face of the entire country. Just drive along any major roadway and you'll see nothing but blight: overgrown fields, houses with crumbling exteriors, and trash piling up in yards (especially in those underserved settlements, which is just heartbreaking).

Why does the government and society at large just tolerate this? 🤷 Why aren't those neglected fields being leased to the state or to individuals who could actually farm them to bolster the US economy, rather than just letting them sit idle? Why is it acceptable for a house to stand without any exterior finish? If someone has the capital to build a home, surely they can scrape together a little more for the facade—or perhaps the government should provide subsidies for lower-income citizens to maintain their properties. And why is it permissible to let scrap metal and refuse accumulate in backyards? There should be fines for that kind of negligence, just like anywhere else.

I am glad to see that recent cleanup efforts for illegal dumping sites have finally begun. It was long overdue, and it's heartening to see people volunteering their time to help clean up their own country.

velvetmaker3 said:We really need to roll out a package of measures designed to make the US actually look decent and well-kept.

Unfinished facades are a massive eyesore, especially those half-done exteriors.
I’ve seen houses where the facade has been sitting unfinished for decades; people move in and just never get around to finishing the job. You see plenty of those cases down in Florida alone.
I honestly don't know how to force people to fix them. I'd suggest making it a legal requirement, where we implement fines for both unfinished facades and generally neglected ones.

Regarding neglected plots of land where nothing grows but weeds, I guess I feel the same way.

Susan Peterson7 said:How is it even possible that in the capital of a nation, building facades fall onto pedestrians, roads are so riddled with potholes that driving feels like an obstacle course, and the historic downtown is paved with nothing but dull gray asphalt? To top it all off, we see multi-million dollar restroom projects being commissioned while police officers seem to be stationed on every single corner. Now, they’re pushing ahead with this "Washington, D.C. Waterfront" project that is supposedly going to define the capital's aesthetic forever. Their grand plan? To erect these hideous concrete and metal blocks 🤦 instead of preserving beautiful buildings in the classic architectural style, complete with cozy cafes, tree-lined promenades, and bike paths—you know, the things that actually make a proper metropolitan city feel livable.

But I won't dwell solely on the utter neglect of the capital—which really should serve as the face of the entire country. Just drive along any major roadway and you'll see nothing but blight: overgrown fields, houses with crumbling exteriors, and trash piling up in yards (especially in those underserved settlements, which is just heartbreaking).

Why does the government and society at large just tolerate this? 🤷 Why aren't those neglected fields being leased to the state or to individuals who could actually farm them to bolster the US economy, rather than just letting them sit idle? Why is it acceptable for a house to stand without any exterior finish? If someone has the capital to build a home, surely they can scrape together a little more for the facade—or perhaps the government should provide subsidies for lower-income citizens to maintain their properties. And why is it permissible to let scrap metal and refuse accumulate in backyards? There should be fines for that kind of negligence, just like anywhere else.

I am glad to see that recent cleanup efforts for illegal dumping sites have finally begun. It was long overdue, and it's heartening to see people volunteering their time to help clean up their own country.

Susan Peterson7 said:I’m starting this thread because a buddy of mine mentioned the other day that The Cabinet supposedly passed some new regulation where any house without finished siding or stucco will be slapped with monthly fines until the exterior is updated. I haven't tuned into the news in about a week, and I can't find a single mention of this on any of the major news sites, so I wanted to see if anyone actually knows if there's any truth to this rumor.

If it turns out to be true, then honestly, it’s about time. 🙂

amberwalker4 said:Are you offering to pay for everyone's new siding?

I'd also love some confirmation on whether this law is real.

Richard Wilson4 said:No matter how much trouble we run into, we’re actually pretty organized, even in the poorer parts of the country

Susan Peterson7 said:The real issue is that people just don't get it. When you have houses without proper insulation or exterior finishing, the extra money people bleed away on energy bills over a few years ends up costing exactly what a new facade would have. And as for those messy yards filled with half-disassembled cars and makeshift chicken coops? There’s no excuse there. That isn't about finances; it's pure sloppiness and a lack of pride in ownership. Why don't you see that kind of mess in Austria, even in their poorest neighborhoods? 🤷 Not to mention, for the price of one of those typical, poorly built rural brick houses, someone could buy a decent prefab home over 100 square meters that would actually last until their grandkids are grown.

The best way to see the contrast is to drive through Canada. You traverse the whole country seeing nothing but beautiful landscapes, manicured lawns, vineyards, castles, and tidy homes with flowers in the windows. Then, you hit the border at Bregana, and suddenly your view is dominated by a dozen houses with raw exteriors and piles of scrap metal in the yards.😁 The Twilight Zone.

Susan Peterson7 said:The real issue is that people just don't get it. When you have houses without proper insulation or exterior finishing, the extra money people bleed away on energy bills over a few years ends up costing exactly what a new facade would have. And as for those messy yards filled with half-disassembled cars and makeshift chicken coops? There’s no excuse there. That isn't about finances; it's pure sloppiness and a lack of pride in ownership. Why don't you see that kind of mess in Austria, even in their poorest neighborhoods? 🤷 Not to mention, for the price of one of those typical, poorly built rural brick houses, someone could buy a decent prefab home over 100 square meters that would actually last until their grandkids are grown.

The best way to see the contrast is to drive through Canada. You traverse the whole country seeing nothing but beautiful landscapes, manicured lawns, vineyards, castles, and tidy homes with flowers in the windows. Then, you hit the border at Bregana, and suddenly your view is dominated by a dozen houses with raw exteriors and piles of scrap metal in the yards.😁 The Twilight Zone.

wiredmarlin43 said:Driving through Germany, you see these young people all dressed up—you’d never guess they were actually farmers. They look like they belong in downtown Chicago or something, totally polished, unlike the messy look you see back home.

wiredmarlin43 said:Driving through Germany, you see these young people all dressed up—you’d never guess they were actually farmers. They look like they belong in downtown Chicago or something, totally polished, unlike the messy look you see back home.

William Brown4 said:Those hideous skyscrapers in New York City are just eyesores... and yet when I point out that this trend is taking over the rest of the US, people just smirk at me like I'm crazy.