capital expenditures and expansion lets a pol say he or she delivered. Thus, things like the Blue line expansion to Franconia and Springfield. Fairfax and Alexandria pols can point to the pretty new station, not bothering to point to the commuter rail stop right next to those stations. Those stations are 20 years old, I think, and they need platform work? A pol doesn't get points for saying "we operated smoothly this winter due to timely maintenance." It's the edifice complex for elected officials.
Is military spending any different? Gobs of $ for shiny new toys while otherwise serviceable assets crumble.
