Maintenance*

Although high cultures consistently demand expansion and progress from its citizens, one thing it does not demand is maintenance. It is not prioritized like other civilized institutions, perhaps because maintenance involves caring for things of the present, here on the ground, and not moving forwards and/or upwards. It is unsexy and boring.

Maintenance, at least the outward expression of it, is a task best given to lower-classed individuals with no professional training, as supposedly successful people choose not to be bothered by such tasks. These minions deal with our infrastructure, which is completely falling apart. 

  In the 1980’s there was a documentary (60 Minutes episode?) about how neglected our roads, tunnels, bridges, etc. were, and things have not gotten better since. One Business Insider study estimated it would cost $123 billion to repair American bridges alone, and $4,5 trillion by 2025 to repair the bridges, roads, dams, airports, schools, and more as well**[Since this piece was written less than a year ago, researches estimate it will take a trillion dollars to care for the problems we face with drinking water, which, for the uneducated, is kind of important].

  Sadly, we have not even mentioned subways, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, parks and recreation, ports, railways, solid waste, transit and wastewater, which is certainly quite a list…

[Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash]

  This is not a regional problem, or even an exclusively American problem. Iran recently arrested and/or harassed scientists and researchers trying to explain the country’s water shortage and offer solutions. In Latin America drought-fueled water deficits are increasing with the climate change and the melting of the glaciers of the region. Venezuela has begun rationing water-yes there are jungles in Venezuela (at least there were?). NASA also came out with a study (2003-2013) that concluded that 21 of the 37 largest aquifers (underground reservoirs that store groundwater from rain and snow) are running out too fast to be replenished.

An additional 13 are declining at a rate that puts them in a category NASA calls the “most troubled.”

[Photo by Ivars Krutainis on Unsplash]

  Worse, we have let our insides go to rot as well, but these problems cannot be fixed by someone without an impressive diploma. As many [largely ignored] studies have shown, we are sick. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Being sick is the new well.

[Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash]

The fact that civilization does not deem maintenance important and chooses to stand by while everything falls apart, makes one wonder what end-goals are important; if staying healthy and alive isn’t on the list. 

*-Use this word around politicians and watch them squirm [Which would be funny, except we’re talking about the infrastructure we use daily, if not on an hourly bases.]

**- Cadie Thompson and Mark Matousek, America’s infrastructure is decaying–here’s a look at how terrible things have gotten. Business Insider. Feb. 5, 2019, 6:30 PM.

@Kurdish Girl