Revitalizing manuracturing

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muter lines that take people to and from their jobs, reducing fuel consumption and commuter time on the highways.

A problem for southern Illinois if such a plan were to be implemented is that we have been shorted for the past 14-plus years, during a time of communications and technological growth. Our broadband and cellular services are spotty and have been a reason for lack of growth in our region. In order to bring the railways and factories back to southern Illinois, we need to bring better broadband to the region. Just as in the 1930s rural America was electrified through rural electric cooperatives, I propose an initiative of rural broadband cooperatives to serve those areas that are ignored or underserved by the major providers.

Congressman John Shimkus has allied himself with “free-market” practices that ship jobs overseas. These practices favor stockholders over consumer incomes. Sometimes the marketplace needs a push in the right direction. The right direction is to revitalize American manufacturing through a national plan for the railways.

Tim Bagwell of Olney is the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 19th District. He holds a Ph.D. in policy analysis and public administration from Saint Louis University. He is an information technology project manager, specializing in the health care and pharmaceutical industries.