The daily stink and stain of life under near-total government has made America LESS mobile.
Here is an astounding report indicating that since 2000, “short haul [air] traffic” has “Decline[d] in the US” by $34 billion.
Government “security” policies imposed since 9/11/2001 have made Americans increasingly use alternative surface transportation. (The regulations almost certainly do very little to make air travel secure.)
The $34 billion figure is only a small component of total losses to the U.S. economy. Fewer short flights mean that America is a less dynamic society, and that goods and services take longer to transport from one location to another. Total losses to American economic vibrancy, innovation and dynamism are likely in the hundreds of billions.
America has become less competitive.
