Fix The Potholes

Trying to explain what government actually does to people who don't believe in government can be very frustrating.

I have explained from time to time that the function of government is to fix potholes. Both figurative and literal potholes.

Anyone who has driven very far on our highways in recent years knows we have a lot of potholes.

Economist Mark Thoma posted an essay today on fixing things. It is worth reading.

In another post, Robert Frank writes from Berlin that "austerity doesn't work if the roof is leaking." Apparently the Germans have figured out they need to fix stuff. And it helps their economy.