Think of the massive investment this country made in itself postwar. Schools, highways, libraries, research and development of technologies, electrification, parks, all the sciences from medical to astrophysics, wages, pensions, and yes, even sidewalks…the list goes on and on. Then the ‘70s and ‘80s hit us with massive tax changes that favored the wealthy and companies while cutting government spending.
Sidewalks are city funded and maintained. Not profitable. The US is car-centric for multiple reasons…mostly profit. And we’re anti-poor. Because only the poor wouldn’t have a car, and they’re not profitable.
Even pre-war. Every once in a while I notice some older infrastructure, discover it was WPA and am amazed how well it’s held up, but why don’t we do that anymore? Sure their approach was intentionally labor-intensive to get people back to work after the Great Depression and we don’t need to follow that part, but why doesn’t anyone seem to care about making the world a nicer place
Profit.
If it isn’t profitable you can get fucked.
Think of the massive investment this country made in itself postwar. Schools, highways, libraries, research and development of technologies, electrification, parks, all the sciences from medical to astrophysics, wages, pensions, and yes, even sidewalks…the list goes on and on. Then the ‘70s and ‘80s hit us with massive tax changes that favored the wealthy and companies while cutting government spending.
Sidewalks are city funded and maintained. Not profitable. The US is car-centric for multiple reasons…mostly profit. And we’re anti-poor. Because only the poor wouldn’t have a car, and they’re not profitable.
Even pre-war. Every once in a while I notice some older infrastructure, discover it was WPA and am amazed how well it’s held up, but why don’t we do that anymore? Sure their approach was intentionally labor-intensive to get people back to work after the Great Depression and we don’t need to follow that part, but why doesn’t anyone seem to care about making the world a nicer place
They’d rather fund ICE and give cops MRAPs than build anything for the public good.