As cars overflowing with stuff crawl slowly towards dorm rooms and apartments here at the University of Michigan, it's worth spending a moment to consider some mainstream news reports that share a downward-sloping psychic curve.

Regulators all over the world would like to have a say about U.S. lending policy, the Times tells us:

Politicians, regulators and financial specialists outside the United States are seeking a role in the oversight of American markets, banks and rating agencies after recent problems related to subprime mortgages. . . . International investors are . . .  asking why American lenders were allowed to give mortgages to home buyers who could not repay them.

We're being whupped by Japan when it comes to internet access, says the Washington Post, and people are finally making the connection between communications regulation and economic growth/innovation.   There's a nice quote from Vint Cerf:

Japan's lead in speed is worrisome because it will shift Internet innovation away from the United States, warns Cerf, who is widely credited with helping to invent some of the Internet's basic architecture.   'Once you have very high speeds, I guarantee that people will figure out things to do with it that they haven't done before,' he said.

And, finally, USAToday pulls together data on the Katrina recovery:

Of the $116 billion appropriated by Congress to Gulf Coast recovery, $34 billion has been earmarked for long-term rebuilding. But less than half of that has made its way through federal checks and balances to reach municipal projects. Throughout the Gulf Coast, residents are asking why their government — at every level — hasn't done more to streamline the process and bring more rebuilding dollars to the region.

These things all relate to America's sinking, slowing, decaying, softening views on the public role of infrastructure.  Just like the rebuilding of a city, internet access and sensible rules about credit are part of baseline civic needs.  Nothing much will happen on any of these three fronts until the next election, and even then it's likely that any "practical" U.S. leader will take an accomodationist, incremental approach.

Welcome to another sinking, slowing, decaying, softening academic year in U.S. history.  Maybe by next fall we'll be more willing to be impractical.