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I'd argue government spending on things like infrastructure moves goods and people to more places thus stimulating the economy. Government spending on research
by codyb 11y ago
I'd argue government spending on things like infrastructure moves goods and people to more places thus stimulating the economy.
Government spending on research results in new drugs and medications which improve peoples qualities of life.
Government investment in clean energy promises to reduce the tens of thousands of people adversely affected by pollution in our nation annually and also provide us with a hugely viable export technology.
Government spending on bureaus like the FDA, EPA, and BBB give consumers and citizens access to outlets for complaints against dirty businesses and give us a decent amount of protection against those who would harm us to gain more of those dollars you think they'd rather have in their own pocket.
Meanwhile, the original owner might buy a boat while thousands of people have shoddy products and no recourse. Or they might buy a nice car while people deal with the pollution from their industry.
In the end, I believe it to be about balance but lets not pretend that a lot of the research that goes into the vast majority of the technologically advanced products doesn't come from tax dollars and lets start ensuring that we as citizens benefit just as much as the owner of these big businesses which can (and should) capitalize on these investments made by society for the good of society.
Then we can all go back to our enjoyable lives of digging up and reburying jars of money.
- vezzy-fnord 11y agoGovernment spending on bureaus like the FDA, EPA, and BBB give consumers and citizens access to outlets for complaints against dirty businesses and give us a decent amount of protection against those who would harm us to gain more of those dollars you think they'd rather have in their own pocket. Some evidence to the contrary: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2015/07/behavioral-politics-gayer/the-behavioral-paradox-of-government-policy.pdf http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2015/... There's always costs of utility forgone to putting upper bounds on heterogeneous consumer preferences, and as it turns out, they can be rather severe.
- dragonwriter 11y ago> Government spending on bureaus like the FDA, EPA, and BBB give consumers and citizens access to outlets for complaints against dirty businesses and give us a decent amount of protection against those who would harm us to gain more of those dollars you think they'd rather have in their own pocket. Well, that's clearly not the case for the BBB (which is a private nonprofit), unless you are counting granting tax exempt status to an organization as a form of "government spending". I tend to agree with regard to the FDA and EPA, most of the time, but its not exactly a non-controversial claim and regulatory capture is always a concern.