DISQUS

mikkel · 1 year ago

Wow how jaded can get accusing a politician of only proposing something to get reelected before inauguration.

The reactions really highlight the problem that everyone just assumes that the government is going to screw over whomever isn't on its "side" and how politics has become just positioning to try to get your side into power instead of actually arguing about competency and the common good. At least Ed's argument is about practicality, although it ignores macroeconomic principles about how our future is dependent on growth, which is a direct function of infrastructure and efficiency, and that's what Obama is REALLY targeting. I don't think Obama is stupid enough to think that this is really going to prevent a downturn, I think he's doing the normal Obama thing where he lets both sides think that to accomplish his real agenda that is more subtle.

DLS · 1 year ago

"New Deal" is tainted. Better would have been the re-use of "Marshall Plan."

As to the details, they remain to be seen. Going after roads and bridges is something likely to get the approval, or at least reduce the disapproval, of many. There are many deficient bridges in this country (we'll see more trusses lost, whcih I find sad but understand, to new beam and cable-stayed bridges, but that's what's to be expected) and places like California could benefit with substandard freeways enlarged and the large two missing links in LA Metro's grid finally being built -- the 39 and the 90-Century (either) eastward through La Habra to Santa Ana Canyon. (These two projects are ambitious, and would likely be fought by the short-sighted, but are long overdue.)

I doubt it's about Obama's re-election. That's looking too far ahead and expecting too much at this time!

DLS · 1 year ago

There is no guarantee that this will prevent a downturn, certainly, Mikkel. (Someday, too when taxes are raised instead of more debt issued to pay for this and health care and other things that the New Crew wants to do, those taxes will be inhibitory, not stimulative.) I doubt it's just going to be mammoth borrow-and-spend followed by monetization later that will be inflationary. Not necessarily, anyway. [wink]

It's going to be interesting and a lot of the money and activity will go to Blue Nation areas, with a perfectly straight face since so much there are the places most in people's minds as needing repair if not complete replacement. (Some parts of this country would be best off and even cheapest totally blasted with nukes and what's left removed before having new construction performed there, effectively from scratch.)

Construction as well as existing services are all things that are still going to be done in this country.

Card check and prevailing wage and living wage laws, anyone?

DLS · 1 year ago

"will be corrupted and not go to American workers"

Kellogg, Brown, and Root! Blackwater!