--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to upgrade and modernize…" description: "\"We need to upgrade and modernize America's infrastructure.Our budget is going to have to figure out how to balance those priorities and pay for it and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg" --- # We need to upgrade and modernize America's… ![“We need to upgrade and modernize America's infrastructure.Our budget is going to have to figure out how to balance those priorities and pay for it and our big goal is to leverage the private sector dollars as much as possible so that the public taxpayer isn't paying for all of this.” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg) > “We need to upgrade and modernize America's infrastructure.Our budget is going to have to figure out how to balance those priorities and pay for it and our big goal is to leverage the private sector dollars as much as possible so that the public taxpayer isn't paying for all of this.” [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates using private investment to fund infrastructure, aiming to lessen taxpayer burden while modernizing assets. **In simple terms:** Use private money to upgrade roads and bridges, not just taxes. Key Takeaway Leverage private sector for public projects efficiently. Themes infrastructure public‑private partnership budgeting Mood strategic pragmatic optimistic Type policy economic When to use this quote - state transportation departments - private construction firms - public‑private joint ventures - budget negotiations Key Concepts economic policy investment strategy government finance Questions to Reflect On - How can accountability be ensured? - What safeguards protect taxpayers? A Different Perspective Private profit motives may conflict with public interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Budgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budgets/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-sector/) [Taxpayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxpayers/) ## Related quotes > [While America's infrastructure needs are substantial, there is no reason to delay completion of the highway bill. Every day of delay means jobs lost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-engler/while-america-s-infrastructure-needs-are-substantial-there-is-no/) [John Engler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-engler/) > [America's infrastructure was once the envy of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/america-s-infrastructure-was-once-the-envy-of-the-world/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Science is definitely part of America's infrastructure, the engine of prosperity. And yet science is given almost no visibility in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/science-is-definitely-part-of-america-s-infrastructure-the-engine-of/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [If increasing income equality is the goal, it might be wiser to put money into infrastructure than to subsidize manufacturing. Construction also pays good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/if-increasing-income-equality-is-the-goal-it-might-be-wiser-to-put/) [Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/) > [In America, we have an infrastructure that's so bad, our roads, our highways, our schools, our tunnels, our bridges. Look at our bridges. Half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-america-we-have-an-infrastructure-that-s-so-bad-our-roads-our/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [To be off the grid is to be disconnected from most of America's infrastructure without having to cross any border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/to-be-off-the-grid-is-to-be-disconnected-from-most-of-america-s/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [“America’s infrastructure is now so wretched that, in some areas, the only people who drive straight are the drunks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-s-infrastructure-is-now-so-wretched-that-in-some-areas-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Who wants good people in government? Good people should be in the private sector. Helping us out, helping themselves out in the private sector.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/who-wants-good-people-in-government-good-people-should-be-in-the/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Within two weeks of moving into the White House, Obama signed a series of executive orders championed by union bosses. The new rules authorized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/within-two-weeks-of-moving-into-the-white-house-obama-signed-a-series/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [In our country, the vast majority of our critical infrastructure and intellectual property is of course in the hands of the private sector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/in-our-country-the-vast-majority-of-our-critical-infrastructure-and/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Liberia has to take primary responsibility for its own reform agenda. But our resources are limited. We have to attract the private sector to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/liberia-has-to-take-primary-responsibility-for-its-own-reform-agenda/) [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/) > [Was it a good idea to spend taxpayer dollars on electric cars in Finland, or on windmills in China? Was it a good idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/was-it-a-good-idea-to-spend-taxpayer-dollars-on-electric-cars-in/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [What did the taxpayers get out of the Obama stimulus? More debt. That money wasn't just spent and wasted - it was borrowed, spent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-did-the-taxpayers-get-out-of-the-obama-stimulus-more-debt-that/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We think that's necessary just as a foundation for economic growth. It's not the jobs in and of themselves, which you do make by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-think-that-s-necessary-just-as-a-foundation-for-economic-growth-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) ## More by Paul Ryan > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Grow jobs. Get this economy growing. Raise wages. Simplify the tax system, so it's easy to comply with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/grow-jobs-get-this-economy-growing-raise-wages-simplify-the-tax/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Donald Trump is a pretty casual guy. He calls me Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/donald-trump-is-a-pretty-casual-guy-he-calls-me-paul/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [ What \[President Donald Trump\] is doing is taking away the executive overreach that President \[Barack\] Obama did which we thought exceeded his powers. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-president-donald-trump-is-doing-is-taking-away-the-executive/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. There are a few things he would say that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/my-dad-died-when-i-was-young-he-was-a-good-and-decent-man-there-are-a/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Millions of young Americans have graduated from college during the Obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. Half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/millions-of-young-americans-have-graduated-from-college-during-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [When you take a look at the problems our country is facing, debt is No. 1. The math is downright scary and the credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-you-take-a-look-at-the-problems-our-country-is-facing-debt-is-no/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [What I'm concerned about is endless borrowing, which is going to compromise our economy not only today but in the future. Because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-i-m-concerned-about-is-endless-borrowing-which-is-going-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-believe-as-our-founders-did-that-the-pursuit-of-happiness-depends/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If you’re going to criticize, you should propose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-going-to-criticize-you-should-propose/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I call crony capitalism, where you take money from successful small businesses, spend it in Washington on favored industries, on favored individuals, picking winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-call-crony-capitalism-where-you-take-money-from-successful-small/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) [Explore all 345 Paul Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need to upgrade and modernize America's infrastructure.Our budget is going to have to figure out how to balance those priorities and pay for it and our big goal is to leverage the private sector dollars as much as possible so that the public taxpayer isn't paying for all of this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Ryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america-s-infrastructure-our-budget/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america-s-infrastructure-our-budget/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/paul-ryan-869_america_we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america_1019246.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need to upgrade and modernize America's infrastructure.Our budget is going to have to figure out how to…” — Paul Ryan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Ryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need to upgrade and modernize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america-s-infrastructure-our-budget/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-need-to-upgrade-and-modernize-america-s-infrastructure-our-budget/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```