Have they estimated how long it will take before it saves more than it costs?

Has anyone in the history of government estimated that for anything?

devin 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I know you're asking rhetorically, but... yes.

bjourne 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yes, ROI estimates are very common in all kinds of government spending.

	▲	xp84 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Right, they do the ROI calculation and then ignore it, and do whatever the favored lobbyists/campaign contributors said to do in any event. Government spending in a nutshell. The Trump twist is being brazen enough that those who get these contracts can just be his family members or buddies, but otherwise, pretty standard.

lern_too_spel 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The federal government has the CBO (https://www.cbo.gov/about/overview) and the OMB (https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/, warning: Trump pop-ups). California has the LAO (https://lao.ca.gov/About). Estimating fiscal impact of various policies is what those organizations do.

What's the ROI on the California rail project?

	▲	lern_too_spel 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The proposition for HSR requires the California High Speed Rail Authority to issue those reports with oversight from the Office of the Inspector General. https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OIG-HSR-Review... If your actual point is that it is costing too much and taking too long, you would be interested in Proposition 45, which limits the ability of local governments and individuals to endlessly delay the project. The LAO's analysis of that proposition is in https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Proposition?number=45&year...

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