The US really need to get their shit together with how the taxes are used. Dams, roads, bridges, pipelines, water cleansing... All that needs maintenance and it is not being done.
Tell me about it. In 2007, there has been a bridge collapse[0] that was mostly caused by inadequate maintenance. Two others (more recently) were accidents[1][2]. And these weren't some little bridges in the middle of nowhere. They were heavily used interstates (sometimes crossing rivers). You can't miss them.
I live in a city that has three major rivers in it, and more bridges than any other[3]. Things like these give me the willies.
You're comparing apples to oranges. Gas lines, electric lines, and telecom infrastructure is usually privately owned (or through a limited public utility), so your taxes don't fund maintenance for them.
