Posted on 01/27/2013 7:41:22 AM PST by Kaslin
When liberals make reference to U.S. economic history, they typically: 1) downplay the role of entrepreneurs, 2) suggest that bold government action has driven growth, and 3) fail to mention the scandals and screw-ups caused by federal interventions.
President’s Obama’s inaugural address reflected some of those mistakes:
Together we determined that a modern economy requires railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce….
No single person can … build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores… Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.
It is not true that America first invested in railroads and highways because “we determined” to do it through the federal government. In the 19th century, those investments were made by thousands of entrepreneurs and businesses. My new study on infrastructure notes:
Before the 20th century, for example, more than 2,000 turnpike companies in America built more than 10,000 miles of toll roads. And up until the mid-20th century, most urban rail and bus services were private. With respect to railroads, the federal government subsidized some of the railroads to the West, but most U.S. rail mileage in the 19th century was in the East, and it was generally unsubsidized.
Railroads, streetcars, bus systems, and, to an extent, roads were financed and developed over many decades by innovative businesses taking risks and making gutsy decisions in the marketplace.
The typical pattern has been for the private sector to experiment with new technologies, and then, once certain products or types of infrastructure take off, politicians want to get in on the action by subsidizing and regulating them. In turn, those interventions have usually led to distortions, scandals, and cost inflation.
Entrepreneurs, for example, had already put in place about 30,000 miles of railroads before the federal government started subsidizing them through the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. And in an early illustration of the problems with such crony capitalism, the railroad subsidies led to the huge Credit Mobilier scandal of 1872.
It also turned out that America didn’t need subsidies for railroads. With his Great Northern Railway, entrepreneur James Hill showed that you could build a cross-country rail system without federal help. Federal involvement in U.S. transportation history is discussed further here and here.
So, no Mr. Obama, we don’t need Washington to build our “roads and networks and research labs.” 
Indeed, more than ever we should be encouraging entrepreneurs to take on those tasks. You and your economic advisors, for example, should check out the beautiful new Jordan Bridge in Virginia, which was constructed with $142 million of private funds.
I want to say his use of “we” is better than the “I” he normally uses...but, nah, it ain’t.
A better way? Let millions upon millions of free thinking people find the most efficient and innovative ways to improve the USA. Move government, which indeed has a role to play, to the lowest possible level.
Unfortunately, our dear leader is simply incapable of seeing the beauty of such a solution. He’s hopelessly tied to a pernicious, destructive ideology.
Collectivism is his only game. He will force it on us as often as possible in the next 4 years.
I know a number of people who built their companies from the ground up by themselves.
NO grants.
Limited loans.
LONG hours.
HARD work.
Single-minded focus on their goals.
George Hurst developed the Hurst 4 speed shifter and the Jaws of Life in a one car garage in Pennsylvania.
The 4 speed shifter was very successful and he GAVE the JAWS OF LIFE to fire departments everywhere.
Obama has never had a callus on his hands in his entire life. He doesn’t know how to run machinery—only his mouth. He will go to his grave hammering at the successes of others, but never have any successes of his own except on the level of street hustler.
We cannot be rid of him fast enough.
Nicely put.
He only uses "we" to try to convince folks he's on our side. He always uses "I" to brag on his "accomplishments".
We must do these things together = More Taxes
my tag line
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