A Negative Railroad
i.
In 1845, economist Frédéric Bastiat made the following observation about a proposal to create a break in the rail line between France and Spain at Bordeaux in order to stimulate the sale of goods and services in that town.
But if Bordeaux has a right to profit from a break in the tracks, and if this profit is consistent with the public interest, then Angoulême, Poitiers, Tours, Orléans, and, in fact, all the intermediate points, including Ruffec, Châtellerault, etc., etc., ought also to demand breaks in the tracks, on the ground of the general interest — in the interest, that is, of domestic industry — for the more there are of these breaks in the line, the greater will be the amount paid for storage, porters, and cartage at every point along the way. By this means, we shall end by having a railroad composed of a whole series of breaks in the tracks, i.e., a negative railroad.
“A negative railroad” is a pretty good description of what the Internet is always tending toward, despite our best efforts: a free stream constantly dammed up by producers at the expense of consumers.
It’s also a good name for a series of plausible absurdities — updated at irregular intervals.
Welcome to A Negative Railroad.
Too perfect cover photo by Matt Callow.
Read “A Negative Railroad” on a larger screen, or in the Medium app!
