Imagine for a moment that you are on an airplane soaring along at 30,000 feet. You look out the window and, to your terror, notice that the wing is on fire. Just then, an announcement over the speakers declares that "due to developing circumstances, Economy Airlines is now offering all passengers a 'Once-in-a-lifetime offer.' All passengers much choose one or the other: Free beverages (cocktails included) for the remainder of the flight, or a parachute."

You are faced with a decision, one of the most vital you will make in your lifetime: Do you take the parachute or get sloppy drunk?

Both options have their appeal for sure!

Certainly, things could go wrong with the parachute: The ripcord could fail, or the 'chute could be packed wrong. But there is a back up 'chute, so it certainly appears to offer substantial momentum in the correct direction.

Free drinks, on the other hand, will ease your tension, provide a distraction and maybe even some short-term satisfaction. But when you really consider the repercussions, it doesn't seem to offer any reasonable resolution to your circumstances. Unless the fire happens to blow itself out before the airplane's structure is compromised -- an unlikely scenario!

Now let's decode the metaphor:

The "airplane on fire" exercise is not too dissimilar from the circumstances America is facing today. The economic obstacles are staunch. But the need for job creation should be viewed as an opportunity to rebuild America's infrastructure with sustainability as the underlying principle. Such an end can be met by imposing supply side economic fundamentals to bring to scale existing deployable technologies that improve America's competitive position, while simultaneously implementing the demand side economic fundamental of efficiency. This must be the outline for both America's and the world's economic and environmental parachute.

The decision is an easy one. America must take the parachute. But before we jump we must be certain that the parachute is properly packed for effective deployment -- and not packed, even partially, with dirty laundry!

Tom DeVries is a senior associate with Catalyst Partners. He has been active in the construction industry serving in a variety of roles for 15 years with primary focus in project management and value engineering. Tom is also a founding member of the Green Building Council of Costa Rica, launched in late 2007 under the guidance of the World Green Building Council.