Bombs have stopped falling over Baghdad, but the hair splitting over who will reconstruct post-war Iraq continues. And with massive state and federal budget cuts looming, communities across America are wondering who will rebuild our country after a return to red ink has left all too many of us jobless, homeless, without health insurance, or trying to make due without vital programs and services.

• Rebuilding Iraq could cost the U.S. taxpayer as much as $59 billion over the next 5 years.
  
  
• As of late April, the states still faced $22 billion in shortfalls for this year and another $54 billion next.
  
  
• 17 states raised taxes this year while 25 governors have proposed raising them in the coming year.

The costs of rebuilding Iraq include restoring infrastructure, supporting essential health and education services, and expanding economic opportunity. But what about here at home?

• By 2007, an estimated 0.3% of GDP will be spent on vital infrastructure (roads, bridges, safe water systems, sewage treatment facilities, public utilities, etc.) - down from 0.8% in 1980.
  
  
• Almost one-third of Americans under age 65 went without health insurance in 2001-2002 - four out of five in working families.
  
  
• 18 states may cut education - meaning teacher layoffs, school closures and shortened school years.
  
  
• Since Jan. 2001, the economy has shed 68,500 jobs a month on average. Unemployment hovers at 6%.

Community leaders understand best how fiscal decisions made in Washington impact Main Street. In a time of shifting national budget priorities, communities will lean on their leaders to show us how to rebuild our economy - from the ground up. Can successful community-level efforts catalyze progress on a larger scale? Can they help reshape the national agenda?