General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs it possible dumpman's trillion dollar infrastructure plan is...
through privatization and not through the federal government? I'm afraid this might be what is brewing in his head of idiotic ideas.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,986 posts)Sad to say.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)Grey Lemercier
(1,429 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)It's a clear trend.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)We do NOT need more billionaires to rule this country.
bhikkhu
(10,716 posts)that is, a project is authorized and bids from private companies are accepted. The government doesn't directly employ workers and manage projects. That has been the case, as far as I know, since the end of the WPA.
I recall reading that there was some legislation passed (republican-sponsored) that prevented any new WPA-style plan, and that prevents direct employment of people by the government in such projects. I read of that in an article about why the government, in the great recession, was limited to bailouts and so forth and couldn't directly hire people for infrastructure projects, but my memory may be faulty and I don't have the source at hand...
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)but I don't trust it.
Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)Basically, what the OP and comments are about is the practice of privately owned roads, built and operated by private corporations as toll roads. Essentially any new construction, and potentially much of the upgrades will be churning out toll roads, so you won't be able to drive anywhere without paying.
bhikkhu
(10,716 posts)Definitely that would be a big step backward, especially if it were a matter of, say, repairing a section of interstate and turning it into a privately-managed toll road to recoup the cost (or to make a profit).
MiniMe
(21,716 posts)to give tax breaks to construction companies with no checks on if they are using the tax breaks to build infrastructure or not. In other words, it is a scam to give himself tax breaks.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Treasury until such time he no longer occupies the White House.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)We'd be much better off financing infrastructure repair the old-fashioned way.