The fact is, Shodan doesn’t engage in any meaningful back and forth discussion and is here to parrot conservative news site talking points. I didn’t intend to insult him, since he obviously does it on purpose. I apologize if you read it as an insult.
Look up Henry CLay’s American System, which was a complete package of economic reform to promote industry. This might sound “obvious” looking back, but there were clear losers to the policies who ended up paying high prices and getting very little benefit. That said, there was a U.S. Highway system back before the introduction of the Interstates, but they weren’t (and aren’t) very direct or as fast. Odds are good that the main road through your town or city is a federal highway, in fact.