OK. So we want to jump-start the economy -- get people working again. One way tossed about as a means by which to do this is by building, rebuilding and repairing the nation's infrastructure.
I'm good with that. We do need to address some of our crumbling infrastructure -- bridges, roads, railroads, all roads. They need attention.
It simply seems to me that it is primarily other business and industry rather than infrastructure building, repair, etc. that actually create jobs.
In the main, who is it that pays for the building, rebuilding and repair of infrastructure? Is it "the Government"?
Who is "the Government"? Is "the Government" some nebulous bunch in Washington, D.C.? Are they going to pay for all this building and rebuilding?
All right. Say we go on the assumption that "the Government" is made up of citizens of the U.S. Does that mean that U.S. citizens, through taxes, will pay for all this building and repair?
My understanding is that the president-elect would like to set aside a $50 billion clump simply to begin all this activity – rather in the line of some type of down-payment. From whence does this $50 billion derive? And from whence the remainder?
Taxes! They will pay for contracts, negotiating contracts (lawyers' fees and disbursements); they will pay the contractors; contractors' employees; employees' FICA and tax commitments; employees' health care insurance; employees' workmen's compensation; employees' vacation and sick time; they will pay for all the materials needed by the contractors; and they will pay the contractors for their equipment and the insurance on the equipment, etc., ad infinitum.
I have a question, which is this: why is road-building, etc., being treated by the incoming administration as some new way to get the economy off to a flying start? In addition, how does the new administration propose to pay for the parts of the planet upon which the new infrastructure, etc., will repose? Umm, maybe, uhhhh, taxes?