# Paths for Trump on the Economy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 13, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paths-for-trump-on-the-economy/771857 "2016-11-13T17:17:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 73
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paths-for-trump-on-the-economy/771857/73 "2017-01-09T00:01:03Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Do you think all infrastructure programs are equivalent to each other? I’m not asking what you think the Nobel Prize-winner you feel so smugly superior to thinks; I’m asking: Do _you_ think all infrastructure programs are equivalent to each other? They are all equivalent in that when they are executed by governments, there is no voluntary exchange involved. The only way wealth can be demonstrated to have been created is through voluntary exchange. > [@](#): > > In particular, do you think companies lining up at the GOP trough to receive many $billions in tax subsidies is equivalent to targeted repairs of government roads, bridges, and levees? Well your characterizations of the two options tell us everything we need to know. Your “targeted repairs” must be contracted to those who are politically connected. I understand why some people are upset that these crony deals will benefit those connected to Trump and not connected to Clinton. I see crony deals as crony deals, whether they are brokered by Democrats through traditional mechanisms or Republicans through novel mechanisms. > [@](#): > > You don’t seem fond of, nor knowledgeable about, Paul Krugman. Please also tell us your opinion of Messrs. David Dunning and Justin Kruger. I have no delusions as to Krugman’s superiority in his very narrow area of expertise. Unfortunately for him and his apologists, this is not his in his bailiwick. He may have picked up on some stuff as an undergrad, good for him and his apologists. I also will never hold a candle to Krugman on political hackery and abdication of integrity. > [@](#): > > I’ve no idea what Krugman actually said, but it’s no secret that economic activity generally increases economic activity (and employment). I demonstrated a variation of this to you once with an extremely simple example: An island with only two actors, Crusoe and Friday, where Crusoe damaging Friday’s boat led to a better boat. You weren’t even able to understand that model. :smack: And then blamed your own confusion on the excess simplicity of a 2-player economy. :rolleyes: Should I try again with a 3-player model? You mean when you unveiled to the world your -interesting- view on money. I forget, do IOUs count in M1 or M2? lol. > [@](#): > > I’m unclear whether your thoughts are dominated by disgust for the Nobel Prize-winner … or just inchoate confusion. I agree that you are unclear. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paths-for-trump-on-the-economy/771857)._