jdavidb's Journal: "Our" infrastructure is in good shape

I really liked this quote:

The next time I cross a concrete bridge (as they all are in Alabama), I'll feel better than I once did: A bridge collapsed somewhere, and it was such a startling event that everyone is covering it endlessly. The incorrect message everyone else is getting is that the nation's infrastructure is crumbling.

I had a vague feeling along those lines when I first heard this story (and being disconnected from most major media I heard the story nearly 24 hours late and have only heard about one update a day since then), but I couldn't elucidate it.

Source: http://www.mises.org/story/2668

Cognitive dissonance

[sam_handelman]

Our infrastructure is indeed in great shape, by historical standards.

  Said infrastructure is maintained, natch, by the government.

  But somehow this becomes a tirade against the government. Does he compare our infrastructure to privately maintained infrastructure (which is generally in terrible shape?) No, instead he bemoans that this will somehow make those foolish sheep think that the government can do something right. Just because it did. Sigh.