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Does strong infrastructure perpetuate economic growth

Does strong infrastructure perpetuate economic growth

  • Yes, economic growth is dependent on infrastructure investment

    Votes: 26 86.7%
  • No, economic growth is NOT dependent on infrastructure investment

    Votes: 2 6.7%
  • Unsure/other

    Votes: 2 6.7%

  • Total voters
    30
The jobs have to be long term value added positions, not just bridges to nowhere, HSR to places where it won't be used and the like.
If it isn't done wisely, it's a waste of resources, no matter the temporary stimulative effect.

We have to see the difference between bridges to nowhere and real investments as well....
 
What effec

Sorry, I prefer to cut your statement short for my convenience, and continue to ask for an explanation... :shrug:
 
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We have to see the difference between bridges to nowhere and real investments as well....

Some of the supposed HSR projects, aren't actually mag lev type HSR that you're thinking of, they're just somewhat faster train services.
Some what faster being an increase of 30 mph or so.
 
Investment need not be done by government. Yes, obviously infrastructure makes private business more efficient, but you can't perform economic calculation when you use taxation to pay for the projects.
 
Investment need not be done by government. Yes, obviously infrastructure makes private business more efficient, but you can't perform economic calculation when you use taxation to pay for the projects.

government has a legitimate role in the building of infrastructure. the interstate highway system, for example.
 
Investment need not be done by government. Yes, obviously infrastructure makes private business more efficient, but you can't perform economic calculation when you use taxation to pay for the projects.

So what private business is going to pay for projects like the interstate system? Or do you think we could have gotten by without that?
 
You mind just summing that up? I don't really feel like spending 3 or 4 hours reading it.

Private companies have built and can build transportation infrastructure.
 
i don't believe that essential services with inelastic demand are best delivered solely by for-profit companies.
 
i don't believe that essential services with inelastic demand are best delivered solely by for-profit companies.

Then maybe you should read some of the book which answers specific problems you may have.
 
Without a doubt, a strong economy depends on a strong infrastructure. Building that infrastructure also means American jobs, which are desperately needed at this time and a less polluted environment that will lessen the causes of climate change. I fail to see how it would not be a win/win endeavor.

Here is one of the most important areas of infrastructure I think we need to undertake:

"This is an exciting time to be in the electricity business. It’s at the center of so many issues that are top of mind for the country—the economy, energy and the environment all find electric companies playing a lead role.

This is, after all, the industry that underpins economic growth in an increasingly electronic world. It’s the industry that is driving progress in technologies that are making the economy greener and more efficient, creating jobs in the energy sector and outside it, and giving customers new ways to manage their use of electricity. These technologies include the Smart Grid, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, renewables, advanced coal and nuclear and more.


The industry is also a positive voice in one of the most significant issues of our time—global climate change—and is a strong supporter of smart climate change legislation.

The economy, technology and solutions to climate change depend on one another. In these areas, electric utilities are leading a transformation to a greener economy, greener jobs, clean and efficient technologies, and an exciting electric future.

Smart Climate Policy and the Green Economy
 
Infrastructure keeps everything moving. When the roads, bridges, highways, railroads, airports, shipping docs, etc.. are not maintained appropriately maintained, it will create a bottleneck. As for the high speed rail system proposed, I see it as "Too little, too late."
 
Obama keeps pushing for a high speed rail system, meanwhile, many in the GOP disdain the idea and the spending it would require. I have even heard some Conservatives argue that the only reason we have the national highway system, is for better transportation of troops.

If we didn't have the highway system, do you think the US economy would be nearly as powerful?

The GOP claims they want to improve the economy, and Obama can't do it... so is the GOP on the wrong side here?

A high speed rail system would allow quicker and more efficient transportation of labor and people in general, and quicker and more efficient transportation of labor and people over longer distances.

Many businesses in the USA would benefit from a rail system. Not only could companies send people to various locations on flights, but we'd have the choice to travel across country by rail too. I have found this to be a very real and huge barrier since graduating college. A lot of talented and bright people in the business world hate flying, and they often turn down jobs and promotions because it requires some flying.

Investing in a rail system would create jobs, and it give us more control over reducing US dependence on oil.

I believe that if America refuses to invest in a high speed rail system, the American economy will be held back.

What do you think?

I think transportation infrastructure is incredibly important for commerce. Goods need to flow from one area to another. People need to be able to go to where markets are.

What I think we should do is focus on intra-state rail first. Design it so that people from less-populated or rural areas can quickly get to urban areas. This will allow people from those areas to gain easier access to shops, museums, and other similar places.

For those states and regions that are more densely populated make high-speed rail that travels from the suburbs to the larger cities. The statistics of how much fuel is wasted in traffic jams on highways by people traveling back and forth between their homes in the suburbs to their place of employment is mind-boggling.

First, focus on that intra-state rail. Then connect that to an inter-state system. That would help commerce manifold.
 
I think transportation infrastructure is incredibly important for commerce. Goods need to flow from one area to another. People need to be able to go to where markets are.

What I think we should do is focus on intra-state rail first. Design it so that people from less-populated or rural areas can quickly get to urban areas. This will allow people from those areas to gain easier access to shops, museums, and other similar places.

For those states and regions that are more densely populated make high-speed rail that travels from the suburbs to the larger cities. The statistics of how much fuel is wasted in traffic jams on highways by people traveling back and forth between their homes in the suburbs to their place of employment is mind-boggling.

First, focus on that intra-state rail. Then connect that to an inter-state system. That would help commerce manifold.

There is merit in what you are suggesting. However, the great majority of American commuters drive less than 35 miles a day, meaning an electric car would be sufficient for their needs. To me the greater waste, is all the cross country shipping by trucks rather than by trains, which are much more energy efficient. Then trucks could deliver it from the railroad hubs to local destinations. This also would reduce highway maintenance costs, as the big rigs cause most of the damage to highways.
 
Obama keeps pushing for a high speed rail system, meanwhile, many in the GOP disdain the idea and the spending it would require. I have even heard some Conservatives argue that the only reason we have the national highway system, is for better transportation of troops.

If we didn't have the highway system, do you think the US economy would be nearly as powerful?

The GOP claims they want to improve the economy, and Obama can't do it... so is the GOP on the wrong side here?

A high speed rail system would allow quicker and more efficient transportation of labor and people in general, and quicker and more efficient transportation of labor and people over longer distances.

Many businesses in the USA would benefit from a rail system. Not only could companies send people to various locations on flights, but we'd have the choice to travel across country by rail too. I have found this to be a very real and huge barrier since graduating college. A lot of talented and bright people in the business world hate flying, and they often turn down jobs and promotions because it requires some flying.

Investing in a rail system would create jobs, and it give us more control over reducing US dependence on oil.

I believe that if America refuses to invest in a high speed rail system, the American economy will be held back.

What do you think?

So the question is centered around high speed rail versus infrastructure in general. If that is the case I do not even hear an argument supporting high speed rail as it moves commuters versus product. Now if you had said could we help the economy by bettering our current rail systems, improve the rail beds so that product could move faster then yes that would help. It would also help if rail was a better competitor to trucking which is a uses a bunch of oil and clogs our roads. Same if by infrastructure meant spending more money to improve our ports.

High speed rail is one of those fun programs that have no real economic value. Better to put in a system so folks could pick up wireless anywhere they travel.
 
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