Politicians are creative people. Sometimes that is to our benefit, but too often their creativity leads them to do things that make our lives more difficult and more costly.

One way that political creativity increases our cost of living is through “Grand Projects:” convention centers, sports arenas, amusement parks, zoos and other recreational facilities.  Each time a city gets involved in a grand project its elected officials assure taxpayers that the involvement will be either temporary or that it is so incredibly profitable that it will bring in far more in new tax revenues than the money they are investing.