[fred cook]

The answer to all of these situations is to have someone or several someones that know what they are doing do a growth/utilities need forecast, do a staged cost estimate, develop a growth plan that is realistic and fund it. Take the politics and the graft out and do the job. Ok, I know that goes against human instincts, but that's what it takes. Otherwise, when the SHTF, only the strong will survive. Anything less is doomed to fail. Someday a scientist will look at the abandoned metropolis' and compare them to the Inca and Mayan ruins. On the bright side, Stephen Hawking has forecast that in 600-1000 years, the earth will be consumed when the sun burns out and fries everything in the immediate area! Be sure to bring the marshmallows!