Re:The price of the Manhattan Project (2013)
by ianai on Sunday December 09, 2018 @11:31AM
(#18641638)
I think of it as the governmental make work program. It’s only been digestible, politically, when it’s tied to this sort of project. Without it, my home state would be severely affected.
Re:The price of the Manhattan Project (2013)
by killjoywashere on Sunday December 09, 2018 @08:04PM
(#18644397)
> Without it, my home state would be severely affected.
New Mexico?
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-least-dependent-on-the...
Re:The price of the Manhattan Project (2013)
by derangedHorse on Sunday December 09, 2018 @12:44PM
(#18642126)
The economy isn’t “out 50k of labor”, the government is saving 50k that it could use to pay someone else who wants to work at wherever their headquarter is.
Re:The price of the Manhattan Project (2013)
by Retric on Sunday December 09, 2018 @06:44PM
(#18644073)
I am referring to the opportunity cost.
Assume Bob could do something and get paid 50k per year, government pays Bob 50k/year to stay at home. Bob makes 50k either way.
But, if Bob does not work for a year then the economy loses 50k/year worth of labor, that’s true if bob makes 40k staying at home or 200k staying at home. It’s also true if the government pays Bob to do something that creates zero value.
There is plenty of waste, but it’s significantly smaller than the direct costs suggest. Especially when such programs reduce unemployment as the economy is not out useful labor, and taxes collect a significant portion of the outlay back.