The interstate system is a two-edged sword. Without it our economy would be much weaker and everything from cars to bread would cost much more. However, when the interstates were built half a century ago, the planners sliced neighborhoods in two particularly targeting areas with little political clout. Today the state Departments of Transportation have much more clout than any neighborhood, and even the fairly well to do are at risk of having their homes taken by the state so more pavement can be laid.