Building the bridge

Reader comment on: The Cost of Painting the Brooklyn Bridge

Submitted by ben (United States), Jun 3, 2010 11:00

"The Bridge" by David McCullough is a superb history of its building. From reading the book, it is clear that workers were paid poorly and there were few safety precautions resulting in many deaths and serious injuries. Sure, things today are more expensive, but back then every corner was cut resulting in profound suffering. Which of those safety regulations do you oppose? Would you prefer that the work generates asthma causing dust? Would your prefer that English is the only language available for people interested in monitoring the safety?

If we went back to a time with no minimum wage, no workplace regulations and no public health concerns, would construction projects be cheaper? Of course. But at what cost to human health and quality of life?

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