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Why haven't the ecosystem of infrastructure companies lobbied and infiltrated government the way that defense companies have?

snowwrestler 8y ago
Infrastructure spending has sadly become partisan because a higher percentage of infrastructure workers are unionized than in the broader economy. Obama and the Democratic Congress delivered a stimulus bill in 2009 that was largely "shovel-ready" infrastructure spending. Because of that, it was attacked by the GOP, who then took over Congress and has proceeded to underfund infrastructure as a means of weakening unions. And of course they're now flying an "America First" flag and wondering why things aren't better. The power of companies in the political process is easy to overstate. Political movements are an industry unto themselves and sometimes easily overwhelm corporate priorities. The military as a cultural force in America politics is very powerful... military contractors essentially surf this wave. They didn't create it; they are far too stupid for that. It was created by veterans and politicians and the consulting ecosystem that supports them. It is in some respects the pendulum still swinging back from the darkest days of the post-Vietnam War period, when people would spit on vets and call them "baby killers." At this point in time, construction workers--and especially unionized construction workers--are not nearly as strong a cultural force, so infrastructure companies have a much smaller wave to surf. That could be changing with Trump, but who knows what is real with that guy. He is all talk on a large number of subjects... he has done what he said he would in trade and immigration, but not even close in healthcare or infrastructure. Ironically for all his talk of America First, Trump's personal attention is focused almost exclusively outward, at allies, trading partners, and immigrants.
- fowkswe 8y ago
  Good answer, thanks. You bring up heath care, which is another industry also had a successful role in shaping American politics. It just seems like real estate developers / construction companies could up their game a bit to steer things towards infrastructure projects.
- masonic 8y ago
  who then took over Congress Two years later, and only the House at that. Obama had Democrat control of both houses until 2011, part of that with filibuster-proof control of the Senate. Would you care to itemize specifics of those "shovel-ready" projects?
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

snowwrestler 8y ago

Infrastructure spending has sadly become partisan because a higher percentage of infrastructure workers are unionized than in the broader economy. Obama and the Democratic Congress delivered a stimulus bill in 2009 that was largely "shovel-ready" infrastructure spending. Because of that, it was attacked by the GOP, who then took over Congress and has proceeded to underfund infrastructure as a means of weakening unions. And of course they're now flying an "America First" flag and wondering why things aren't better. The power of companies in the political process is easy to overstate. Political movements are an industry unto themselves and sometimes easily overwhelm corporate priorities. The military as a cultural force in America politics is very powerful... military contractors essentially surf this wave. They didn't create it; they are far too stupid for that. It was created by veterans and politicians and the consulting ecosystem that supports them. It is in some respects the pendulum still swinging back from the darkest days of the post-Vietnam War period, when people would spit on vets and call them "baby killers." At this point in time, construction workers--and especially unionized construction workers--are not nearly as strong a cultural force, so infrastructure companies have a much smaller wave to surf. That could be changing with Trump, but who knows what is real with that guy. He is all talk on a large number of subjects... he has done what he said he would in trade and immigration, but not even close in healthcare or infrastructure. Ironically for all his talk of America First, Trump's personal attention is focused almost exclusively outward, at allies, trading partners, and immigrants.

fowkswe 8y ago
Good answer, thanks. You bring up heath care, which is another industry also had a successful role in shaping American politics. It just seems like real estate developers / construction companies could up their game a bit to steer things towards infrastructure projects.
masonic 8y ago
who then took over Congress Two years later, and only the House at that. Obama had Democrat control of both houses until 2011, part of that with filibuster-proof control of the Senate. Would you care to itemize specifics of those "shovel-ready" projects?

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]