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> Where are the massive capital expenditures we saw in the 19th and 20th centuries? Those expenditures are still around: they built the roads, runways and skys

> Where are the massive capital expenditures we saw in the 19th and 20th centuries? Those expenditures are still around: they built the roads, runways and skyscrapers that we all use today. Why do developing countries spend a lot more on development than developed countries do? That's almost a tautology.

theandrewbailey 9y ago
A lot of the infrastructure we use today is so old that it's crumbling, and has been for years. Few people are interested in doing anything to fix it.
- JoeAltmaier 9y ago
  During the last administration, we had a fake 'shovel-ready' infrastructure program to boost economic growth. I say fake, because mostly very-visible PR projects such as changes to roads and parks got funded. Not real infrastructure such as sewer plants, under-street pumping stations, painting the underside of bridges and other invisible but essential projects that have been 'shovel-ready' for a decade but still undone. Biggest waste of public funds in a generation. And mostly used to build further infrastructure such as roads, burdening the maintenance budget even more. Instead of helping.
  - coldpie 9y ago
    > Biggest waste of public funds in a generation A certain little jaunt through the middle east would like to have a word with you.
    - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
      Ha! But did that accelerate our maintenance backlog? Never mind the money; its about the physical infrastructure we've got to keep up.
    - mason240 9y ago
      Nearly all of that spending was simply added directly the national debt, very little actually came out of the general fund.
      - sqeaky 9y ago
        Surely there are some negative side effects of more a trillion dollars of debt!
      - Noumenon72 9y ago
        I'm sorry I'm taking your bait, but obviously it is the same waste of money whether you pay for it with cash or on your credit card.
aphextron 9y ago
>Why do developing countries spend a lot more on development than developed countries do? That's almost a tautology. I don't think it's as simple as "we're developed now". Is there some arbitrary set point at which a country is completely "developed" and we should just stop doing things? Why is there such an aversion in this society to "spending money" as if it's something that we are losing rather than simply putting people to work and generating economic output. The complete gridlock which has gripped the US over the past 40 years has left vast amounts of the population sick and dying with no hope for anything.

theandrewbailey 9y ago

A lot of the infrastructure we use today is so old that it's crumbling, and has been for years. Few people are interested in doing anything to fix it.

JoeAltmaier 9y ago
During the last administration, we had a fake 'shovel-ready' infrastructure program to boost economic growth. I say fake, because mostly very-visible PR projects such as changes to roads and parks got funded. Not real infrastructure such as sewer plants, under-street pumping stations, painting the underside of bridges and other invisible but essential projects that have been 'shovel-ready' for a decade but still undone. Biggest waste of public funds in a generation. And mostly used to build further infrastructure such as roads, burdening the maintenance budget even more. Instead of helping.
- coldpie 9y ago
  > Biggest waste of public funds in a generation A certain little jaunt through the middle east would like to have a word with you.
  - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
    Ha! But did that accelerate our maintenance backlog? Never mind the money; its about the physical infrastructure we've got to keep up.
  - mason240 9y ago
    Nearly all of that spending was simply added directly the national debt, very little actually came out of the general fund.
    - sqeaky 9y ago
      Surely there are some negative side effects of more a trillion dollars of debt!
    - Noumenon72 9y ago
      I'm sorry I'm taking your bait, but obviously it is the same waste of money whether you pay for it with cash or on your credit card.

aphextron 9y ago

>Why do developing countries spend a lot more on development than developed countries do? That's almost a tautology. I don't think it's as simple as "we're developed now". Is there some arbitrary set point at which a country is completely "developed" and we should just stop doing things? Why is there such an aversion in this society to "spending money" as if it's something that we are losing rather than simply putting people to work and generating economic output. The complete gridlock which has gripped the US over the past 40 years has left vast amounts of the population sick and dying with no hope for anything.