No, if it were pork spending it'd come from some specific bill -- Congress. The US Department of Transportation gave out this money because that is a big part of what the DoT does -- promote better use of roads.
What is the board's thoughts on SMART?
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No, if it were pork spending it'd come from some specific bill -- Congress. The US Department of Transportation gave out this money because that is a big part of what the DoT does -- promote better use of roads.
I have never understood why people don't
understand simple capitalism.
It will happen if:
1. The DEMAND makes it financially beneficial
or
2. The government decides this is what we need despite demand and wastes billions of my tax dollars trying to force it to work.
Two words.... CHEVY VOLT
understand simple capitalism.
It will happen if:
1. The DEMAND makes it financially beneficial
or
2. The government decides this is what we need despite demand and wastes billions of my tax dollars trying to force it to work.
Two words.... CHEVY VOLT
Since we are an engineering school why don't we just apply for billions in grants to construct a Mag-Lev (Magnetic-Levitation) high speed monorail to serve our transit problems. The problem with most of you is you don't think big enough.
Taken much economics?
In general, I agree that the private market will provide most goods. But, there are public goods. Essentially, the benefits of the good are felt by those that are not involved in the transaction. This is why we need laws and regulations on pollution, schools, parks, etc.
One potential non-market benefit is a decrease in traffic and pollution that is caused by fewer automobiles on the road. So, it's not just as simple as "Does the private market provide it?" Otherwise, we would certainly have a very poor army and probably no public schools.
In general, I agree that the private market will provide most goods. But, there are public goods. Essentially, the benefits of the good are felt by those that are not involved in the transaction. This is why we need laws and regulations on pollution, schools, parks, etc.
One potential non-market benefit is a decrease in traffic and pollution that is caused by fewer automobiles on the road. So, it's not just as simple as "Does the private market provide it?" Otherwise, we would certainly have a very poor army and probably no public schools.
Spoken like a true democrat
You are either still in the protective confines of education or work in the public sector. Either way you obviously have yet to experience the joy of the taxation butt ramming our great government has to offer.
Boy this should get some great responses.
You are either still in the protective confines of education or work in the public sector. Either way you obviously have yet to experience the joy of the taxation butt ramming our great government has to offer.
Boy this should get some great responses.
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In my opinion, this:
interstate system - better if privatized
police and fire - better if privatized
military- better if privatized
education- better if privatized
energy- better if privatized
environment- screwed
consumer safety- screwed
interstate system - better if privatized
police and fire - better if privatized
military- better if privatized
education- better if privatized
energy- better if privatized
environment- screwed
consumer safety- screwed
So private companies would spring up to build roads that linked the country from border to border and they all would magically have the same standards? And it would cost you less to drive on them than your car tag?
There's a really, really, really big reason why most everyone in their right mind realizes that Classical Economic Theory only works best with a pencil and a graph.
There's a really, really, really big reason why most everyone in their right mind realizes that Classical Economic Theory only works best with a pencil and a graph.
Assuming you are earning your own living (not mama's dime), and assuming you work for a company that is not being driven into the ground by the government (Solyndra, USPO, GM, Medicare, Social Security, etc.) then tell your boss that you don't believe capitalism works.
About half of America thinks somehow the government paid for itself, and sustains itself, which has to be the most ignorant view of economics that was every dreamed up.
Your comments are classic professorial or lemming.
About half of America thinks somehow the government paid for itself, and sustains itself, which has to be the most ignorant view of economics that was every dreamed up.
Your comments are classic professorial or lemming.
The Government seriously helps out my employer.
But it is also a privately owned business. It's not a one or the other proposition you know. We have a mixed economy. The debate swings a little each way on what that mix should be. Pure capitalism and pure socialism don't work. Meet me in the middle without the invisible hand non-sense and a decent discussion (that is totally unfit for this board actually) can take place.
Back to the issue of SMART, though. Investments like this that can help improve and hopefully grow local communities are an excellent use of public funds. I hope it works out,
But it is also a privately owned business. It's not a one or the other proposition you know. We have a mixed economy. The debate swings a little each way on what that mix should be. Pure capitalism and pure socialism don't work. Meet me in the middle without the invisible hand non-sense and a decent discussion (that is totally unfit for this board actually) can take place.
Back to the issue of SMART, though. Investments like this that can help improve and hopefully grow local communities are an excellent use of public funds. I hope it works out,
Why would you think pure capitalism wouldn't work?
Nobody has ever tried anything close and there's a pretty good correlation between economic freedom and per capita GDP.
Doesn't seem like there is any evidence that having a market economy and only using the gov't to provide public goods wouldn't work pretty damn well.
Nobody has ever tried anything close and there's a pretty good correlation between economic freedom and per capita GDP.
Doesn't seem like there is any evidence that having a market economy and only using the gov't to provide public goods wouldn't work pretty damn well.
Number one reason...
Nobody would use a bank anymore.
As a result of that, the economy grinds to a halt. And not like what's going on now. Like Great Depression stuff. Which oddly enough was a result of the closest to pure capitalism the US has ever been.
You're last sentence makes sense, and that's where the debate lies among reasonable people. What is a public good and what isn't? I see transportation as an industry that needs both private and public investments.
And now we're off SMART completely, so I'm gonna lock it. Anybody wanting to discuss economic policy can PM me. However, I probably won't reply back if you sound like a government hating nut job with just enough education to make a bunch of stupid noise on a message board.
Nobody would use a bank anymore.
As a result of that, the economy grinds to a halt. And not like what's going on now. Like Great Depression stuff. Which oddly enough was a result of the closest to pure capitalism the US has ever been.
You're last sentence makes sense, and that's where the debate lies among reasonable people. What is a public good and what isn't? I see transportation as an industry that needs both private and public investments.
And now we're off SMART completely, so I'm gonna lock it. Anybody wanting to discuss economic policy can PM me. However, I probably won't reply back if you sound like a government hating nut job with just enough education to make a bunch of stupid noise on a message board.
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