Hello fiscal conservatives. You are not wrong, spending and spending on wasteful projects that pad the pockets of lobbyists and by extension their paid congressmen is shameful and disgusting. But we cannot say that any deficit spending is bad.
There are good and bad ways to build infrastructure. But we cannot not do it. Everyone needs roads and bridges to work.
Don't be those fiscally responsible governors in 2009 who turned down high speed rail money in florida and wisconsin. What did that accomplish? The same federal money going to the bigger more regulated more grift infested California HSR work.
Dont be the economic equivalent of the "ever so moral" jackass that is paul ryan.
Be leaders. What would be good ways to do infrastructure? Fewer regulations? Check. Low interest rates? Check. Unemployment and an unsteady but hopeful economy? Check.
What else do we need? State oversight? New clearinghouse for grants? Encouragement of municipal bonds to be invested in private economic zones like hong kong? A realization that urban revitalization projects if done poorly can look the same as foreign nation building(ie. Parachuted in help that the people don't want and hate you more for)?
I know this doesn't particularly answer any of the questions you asked but it definitely got me thinking
Just some thoughts for discussion. I've been lurking for years now and now that we've drifted away from Reddit I'll probably start posting more.