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> or they’re pessimistic about modern America’s ability to build anything big any more. This wouldn't be an entirely unfounded concern.

Robotbeat 5y ago
Yeah, I was throwing the author a bone, there. Unfortunately, with scare articles like this, it’s somewhat of a self fulfilling prophecy. We need articles talking about how it’s relatively easy given historical capabilities, but we need actual action.
- anonporridge 5y ago
  True that. Setting expectations and believing something is possible is an underrated part of the process to get there. Pessimism leads to inaction.
- asdff 5y ago
  Too bad the nature of politics has changed. We need another FDR and WPA. Too many politicans favor crafting lucrative public contracts to their cabal of friends than crafting a productive public works project. There is no job security in that. Another big issue is the cost to run. In order to be a decent candidate, you need to buy national advertising, which is owned by a handful of companies, which would prefer certain candidates who would provide them with profitable legislation. The current crop is rotten and the mechanisms we have to get a new one are coopted by these entrenched private interest groups who actively fight to ensure their profitable status quo doesn't change, and only does if a profitable angle has been already conceived. Maybe this is the American Way.
  - simplicio 5y ago
    I disagree. The FDR era featured a lot more public corruption and cronyism then currently exists. Indeed, I suspect there's some trade-off between anti-corruption and the ability to get things built, as layers of checks, hearings, certifications, etc. end up making it much harder and more time consuming to build anything.
    - jessaustin 5y ago
      The FDR era featured a lot more public corruption and cronyism then [sic] currently exists. This is a bizarre misrepresentation of history. There are entire industries of corruption now that didn't even exist in FDR's time. The current government spends far more as a percentage of (a vastly larger) GDP; the fact that nothing useful gets done can't very well argue for less corruption.

Robotbeat 5y ago

Yeah, I was throwing the author a bone, there. Unfortunately, with scare articles like this, it’s somewhat of a self fulfilling prophecy. We need articles talking about how it’s relatively easy given historical capabilities, but we need actual action.

anonporridge 5y ago
True that. Setting expectations and believing something is possible is an underrated part of the process to get there. Pessimism leads to inaction.
asdff 5y ago
Too bad the nature of politics has changed. We need another FDR and WPA. Too many politicans favor crafting lucrative public contracts to their cabal of friends than crafting a productive public works project. There is no job security in that. Another big issue is the cost to run. In order to be a decent candidate, you need to buy national advertising, which is owned by a handful of companies, which would prefer certain candidates who would provide them with profitable legislation. The current crop is rotten and the mechanisms we have to get a new one are coopted by these entrenched private interest groups who actively fight to ensure their profitable status quo doesn't change, and only does if a profitable angle has been already conceived. Maybe this is the American Way.
- simplicio 5y ago
  I disagree. The FDR era featured a lot more public corruption and cronyism then currently exists. Indeed, I suspect there's some trade-off between anti-corruption and the ability to get things built, as layers of checks, hearings, certifications, etc. end up making it much harder and more time consuming to build anything.
  - jessaustin 5y ago
    The FDR era featured a lot more public corruption and cronyism then [sic] currently exists. This is a bizarre misrepresentation of history. There are entire industries of corruption now that didn't even exist in FDR's time. The current government spends far more as a percentage of (a vastly larger) GDP; the fact that nothing useful gets done can't very well argue for less corruption.