Opposition to Infrastructure Spending: The Origins

Here's a little something from Prof. Krugman to think about: (please follow link to original)


Opposition to Infrastructure Spending: The Origins

I’m currently reading Daniel Walker Howe’s What Hath God Wrought, and there’s an interesting discussion of the debate over “internal improvements.” Some southerners were opposed, for an interesting reason. Here’s Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina, in 1818:

If Congress can make canals, they can with more propriety emancipate.

I leave the elucidation of any parallels or lack thereof to modern politics as an exercise for readers.