4 ms·
Further evidence that the US, for whatever reason, lacks basic ability to rationally use resources.
by throwaway27448 7mo ago
Further evidence that the US, for whatever reason, lacks basic ability to rationally use resources.
- guywithahat 7mo agoIf you adjust for GDP railroads were much more expensive, and I don't think they're viewed as a mistake https://x.com/finmoorhouse/status/2044985790212583699?s=20 https://x.com/finmoorhouse/status/2044985790212583699?s=20
- ElevenLathe 7mo agoIt's not totally clear that the gigantic push to run rail lines through undeveloped parts of North America "ahead of demand" for reasons of genocide (aka "white settlement"), especially the transcontinental routes, was the smartest investment, even leaving aside the horrific crime it represents. We probably would have gotten greater ROI connecting more developed places on a piecemeal basis and extending the rail network more slowly in the West (and probably even more rapidly in the developed East) instead of founding new towns along brand-new rail lines. There is a reason the federal government was so involved in the finance of these things: left alone, private Eastern capital would not have done things the way they were done, which was chiefly to "open the frontier" aka accelerate the genocide. I certainly think it was a mistake.
- emp17344 7mo agoIt’s just a classic bubble. They’ve happened before, and while they are irrational, the market sorts itself eventually.
- tim333 6mo agoThe US has mostly ended up quite prosperous if not that environmentally friendly.
- throwaway27448 6mo agoIn some measurements, sure. But we're god awful at rationally using our wealth
- danielmarkbruce 6mo agoIt's the richest large country by miles.
- throwaway27448 6mo agoThat doesn't imply we know what to do with it. by all evidence we are one of the worst countries on earth at rationally distributing resources
- danielmarkbruce 6mo ago"it" didn't down from the sky. "it" came about from good capital allocation.