Posted on 08/04/2016 5:16:07 AM PDT by expat_panama
2016 Elections: Largely overlooked because of the dust over his attacks on Khizr Khan, Donald Trump made an eye-opening promise on Tuesday, saying that he'd spend twice as much as Hillary Clinton on fixing roads and bridges. It's an outlandish proposal for any politician to make. But it's almost inconceivable that the Republican nominee for president would be trudging down this dreary big-government path.
"We need much more money than (Clinton's plan) to rebuild our infrastructure," Trump told Fox...
The numbers we're talking about here are massive. Clinton says that if elected she would boost federal spending...
Trump says he'll spend around $550 billion more over five years, which means that he's effectively splitting the difference between a liberal Democrat and a socialist Democrat. (Trump's spending plan also happens to be in line with what liberal economist Larry Summers advocated at a panel discussion at the Democratic National Convention.)
Looked at another way, Trump would double current federal spending on infrastructure...
...two problems with Trump's -- and Hillary's and Bernie's -- massive infrastructure spending plans. 1) They won't work, and 2) They aren't needed.
How do we know they won't work? Because President Obama already tried it...
...a recent Government Accountability Office report found that, when it comes to bridges at least, things are improving. The GAO found a 21% decline in the number of structurally deficient bridges between 2005 and 2014, while the country built 15,000 new bridges...
...too much bureaucracy. Any new road or bridge, or airport or dam or pipeline faces an onslaught of bureaucratic delays...
As a businessman, Trump should understand this and, instead of trying to one-up Hillary Clinton on spending, he should be demanding more accountability for the vast sums the nation already spends on its infrastructure.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
◄▬▬ Here are the numbers we got on 'infrastructure' spending (click to enlarge).
Related IBD articles:
I am all for rebuilding OUR infrastructure!
To hell with the rest of the world! I dont want one red cent to be spent rebuilding Muslim countries!
A lot can be hidden in percentages:
http://www.artba.org/economics/2016-u-s-deficient-bridges/
There are nearly 204 million daily crossings on 58,495 U.S. structurally deficient bridges in need of repair.
Trump proposes actually rebuilding our infrastructure vs Obama’s slush fund.
Vote Trump 2016
A stimulated economy will bring in the money to build the infrastructure. Fair bidding will keep the prices down.
It will take Trump like figures to fix our roads and bridges. The stimulus a la Obama was a money laundering scheme to fund the DNC and Democrat cronies. For some reason, I think Mr. Trump might actually get the “infrastructure” fixed with the money.
As long as a wall is part of the infrastructure, I’m good.
Happy Thursday --Humphday for stocks as yesterday's close saw a mild rebound in fading trade volume. "Not to worry" say the futures traders, we now see 'em up +0.44% although metals could go -0.68%. Current prices gold, silver: $1,353.66, $20.27.
From the number geeks:
7:30 AM Challenger Job Cuts
8:30 AM Initial Claims
8:30 AM Continuing Claims
10:00 AM Factory Orders
10:30 AM Natural Gas Inventories
--and from the wordsmiths:
The First Conspiracy Theory About the Jobless Rate - Josh Zumbrun, WSJ
Under Clinton There Will Be Labor Federalization - John Cochrane, TGE
Fed Price Fixing, and How It's Hurting the Economy - Steve Forbes,Forbes
Biggest European Banks More Troubled Than U.S. - Shawn Tully, Fortune
Farm Jobs Dwindle, But the U.S. Feeds the World - Daniel Gross, S+B
When So Much Seems So Wrong, Why Own Stocks? - Ken Fisher, Forbes
Don't Fear This Market Pullback, Embrace It - Kevin Marder, MarketWatch
“Largely overlooked because of the dust over his attacks on Khizr Khan”
What the H*ll is wrong with these people. Trump DID NOT attack Kahn.
This “Kah” story is proof that if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth and the ignorant believe it.
Let’s just throw another trillion to the fight in the Middle East. That was always such a good investment for America. NOT!
I’m all for rebuilding the infrastructure IF the money is actually spent on rebuilding the infrastructure. Trump is right that our airports and roads are in horrible shape compared to many other countries. The difference is I believe that Trump will make sure the money goes into those projects and not just into a handful of buddies’ pockets. And we won’t get saddled with garbage like Solyndra.
Have these people complained about the hundreds of billions of dollars the U.S. government has thrown at rebuilding Iraq and other Muslim counties’ infrastructure?
I’m sure the number of cars and trucks has also increased by 400% since the 1950’s, as well.
Yes. Properly managed, the infrastructure could be rebuilt in a less costly and more efficient way.
Contrary to what others mean when they talk about rebuilding the infrastructure, Trump will do it, and a robust economy will finance it.
Yep, and all of Obamas’ promises about rebuilding our infrastructure, when did THAT happen.
Exactly! Here in Wisconsin our road funds went to build bike paths and plant flowers. In the meantime, we are dodging potholes like a 3rd world country.
Trump did not make any attacks on Khan!!! Really sad when every media outlet is parroting this nonsense.
Is there any state whose DOT is not union? If not, then this money will again go to the DNC and Democrat cronies.
I would support doing this IFF you also cut welfare to pay for it. Better to pay people to work on something productive.
Vote Trump 2016
The trillions that went to the well hidden world bankers, environmental faux store fronts and too many to name false causes will be directed to actually spending on the infrastructure and the things they were approved of in congress and the (budget) law.
Why do you think regular legislative budgeting order has not happened for almost 8 years? It's all being stolen.
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