Current Events » in reply to re: We may be reaching a tipping point
This is a great example of how the concentrations of costs and benefits affect decision-making. If passed, this highway money comes from all taxpayers -- even at $100b, the cost to the average taxpayer is under $100. But, particularly for House members, the political benefits are very concentrated -- a new road project in a moderately sized district is a big deal. As a result, even if a given project is not worth it from a society-wide view, it's worth it to any given district precisely because all the benefits accrue to that district while the costs are spread over all tax payers.
