Prevalent today is the notion that the federal government is supposed to print money or do whatever it takes to lavish funds on local governments so they can build fancy buildings, signature monuments, and parks and greenways. This, in turn, is supposed to create prosperity. There is an unpopular viewpoint out here that says wealth bestowed has a low probability of sticking, but wealth earned is cherished, cultivated, maintained, and expanded. Please, please, pretty please, see, for example, this web site.