I have two words for people opposed to government investment in the economy:

[hedgehog]

Erie Canal

Clinton's Ditch was financed by the State of New York after James Madison had vetoed Federal financing on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. It more than paid for itself shortly after opening. More than that -

"The Erie Canal established the city of New York as the dominant commercial center it has become and was responsible for the development of the western part of the state.

The canal played a vital role in the settlement of the Midwest.

Canal construction developed the engineers and systems necessary for the creation of a national infrastructure that allowed the nation to expand and prosper.

The Erie Canal eased growing sectionalism and helped to preserve the Union during the pivotal antebellum and Civil War years."

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma02/volpe/canal/intro.html

[Bragi]

1. Or 3 words: National Highway System /nt

[rgbecker]

2. Here's one more....

Airports.


Anyone else have any?

[hedgehog]

3. Intercontinental Rail Road

Is that 3 words or 2?

[MedicalAdmin]

4. Hoover damn and rural electrification.

It literally brought america out of the dark ages.

[former9thward]

5. The railroads were financed and built by the railroad companies.

[hedgehog]

11. The railroads were given land for every mile of track laid down:

http://www.coxrail.com/land-grants.htm


That's a subsidy.

[former9thward]

13. No question.

But most of it was worthless land that could not be sold to anyone --- and still can't be, witness the huge federal land holdings in the West. It was certainly in the interest of the federal government to promote rail traffic to bring population and commerce to the West and back. It was a good investment.

[rgbecker]

15. And not just for the track....Miles along either side to be sold off to

finance the building. Gotta read about it...


Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869 by Stephen Ambrose

[former9thward]

6. There usually is some federal money in airport construction

but most is private. The airlines are charged fees for construction and passengers are charged fees which are included in the ticket price. Bonds are issued which are bought by private investors.

[rgbecker]

14. Interesting point...Seems like all the treasury bonds are bought by private investors.

Oh, and China etc. Does that somehow not make it Government investment? Either way its the taxpayers shelling out for things that make life in America a little better.

[former9thward]

17. I agree the government organizes these things most of the time.

But sometimes it can get out of hand. Currently in Chicago United and American Airlines are suing the city because the city wants to build more runways at O'Hare which are totally unneeded and charge the airlines and their customers the financing charge.

[rgbecker]

18. I think most Airports are governed by public commissions....

Controled by open meeting laws etc. where the public has a least some input. This as opposed to private outfits like United and American Airlines which are pretty much driven by their private directors with some input from shareholders who have a say only based on their stockholdings. When it comes to enterprises that effect vast areas and people of all kinds, I'll go with the Government investment everytime.

[rgbecker]

16. Here's some history of Federal Investments in Airports..Worthwhile?

You be the judge.

http://www.tcpilots.org/resource/fund_history.html

[TomClash]

7. I have one word

internet

[jwirr]

8. Community hospitals.

[DirkGently]

9. There are two other words that might apply, but these are nice also.

. . . point being, yes, we desperately need to spend money on infrastructure. Problem being, the Republicans appear to have convinced a lot of people that any spending for the common good is the equivalent of stealing.

I can't wait to live in their fantasy world of barb-wired mansions surrounded by moats of toxic waste and roving gangs of cannibals.

[ItNerd4life]

10. What about windows in an unused building?

The problem isn't in the idea, the problem is in what is invested in. Very few government investments have worked, the earmarks/investments
that have been going on for years are worthless. For every worthwhile investment, there are hundreds that have been worthless and/or should
have been handled at the community/state level.

[hedgehog]

12. "For every worthwhile investment, there are hundreds that have been worthless

and/or should have been handled at the community/state level."

For example?

[SpartanDem]

19. Is this meant chastise converatives or liberals

It's a sad question to ask, but I'm now reading on DU from so called progrssives that infrastruce spending is corporate welfare.

[hedgehog]

20. I was thinking of the anti-government investment, free market sorts,

but you are correct that some people are against government investment because corporations might profit from it.

Truth to tell - our massive defense establishment is an example of government investment in the wrong place run a-muck! Although, it was the Defense Department that paid to develop the proto-Internet! And, an article in the New Yorker suggests that Defense Department money may be paying for the next big thing in prevention and treatment of viral diseases:

Going Viral
The Pentagon takes on a new enemy: swine flu.
by David E. Hoffman January 31, 2011

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/31/110131fa_fact_hoffman#ixzz1CGrjQHkg