Back in the days when the market was a kind of secular god…
“Back in the days when the market was a kind of secular god and all the world thrilled to behold the amazing powers of private capital, the idea of privatizing highways and airports and other bits of our transportation infrastructure made a certain kind of sense.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Historically, private capital was revered, but the idea of privatizing public transport once seemed logical within that worldview.
In simple terms: Privatizing transport once made sense when capital was worshipped.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about public vs. private ownership.
Themes
economics
infrastructure
history
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Urban planning
- transport policy debates
- investment decisions
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
Capitalism
public goods
policy
ideology
Questions to Reflect On
- Is private ownership always beneficial for infrastructure?
- How does reverence for capital shape policy?
A Different Perspective
Privatization can lead to inequity and loss of public control.