Normally I don't advocate big government programs. But downturns can be the best time to get ready for the next upturn. Construction costs are lower and the projects will be ready when they are needed instead of under construction.

However, there is obviously no need to continue to subsidize Lufthansa and other overseas carriers. It is more important to have an airport that functions for the people who use it than to have one that has a few prestigious overseas flights.

I agree that there is absolutely no need to expand PDX. I favor upgrading the rail link to SeaTac (it only needs to be as quick as a French train from the 1960s)and we should have all the capacity we'll ever need.

Having said that, any statistic covering the last few months is going to be scary. Are going to stop building roads because of this: "The Federal Highway Administration last month reported that Americans drove about 100 billion fewer miles between Nov. 1, 2007, and Oct. 31, 2008, than in the same period a year earlier, the largest sustained decline in driving in U.S. history."

Sherwood, the 100 billion few miles is not the stated estimate, but close. That is less than a 1% drop in miles. Is it then good policy to not fix the potholes, the bridges, add road capacity where need has been calculated? Obama thinks not.

Re the $17 million that CoP found this week, this article is proof positive that it is only the dumb among us that have resisted building the 750 room Hyatt (or Westin, whatever).