My comment wasn't an endorsement of that position. Just a statement of fact.
I-75 between Detroit and Toledo cost a lot to build, but we do not charge a toll to recover those costs. There's nothing different about this bridge. Government could decide to build it at taxpayer expense, and provide it as public infrastructure.
Roads and bridges both enhance trade, and thus contribute to our wealth.
There's no doubt whatsoever that increased trade brings wealth to both sides of the transaction.
Trade deficits are not bad. They just sound bad and are used by populists for their own purposes. Tariffs are bad, and harm everyone -- but give false comfort to those who do not understand that trade benefits everyone, always.
Anything that benefits the "rest of the country" is good enough for me. Roads and [[even international bridges) provide markets for our products. And they enable others to sell us things we consume at the best possible price. Everybody benefits. I'm also quite in favor of helping Mexico too. If we want fewer illegal immigrants, benefitting Mexico is wise.
I have to say this again. Trade benefits everyone. Trade deficits are not bad. They just sound bad.
see: NYTimes: Trump Hates the Trade Deficit. Most Economists Don’t
One interesting excerpt:The United States actually runs a trade surplus in services with China, as it does with many other countries, in part by attracting Chinese students to study at American colleges, which counts as an export.
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