"So to recap: massive government subsidies created 1,100 "green jobs" [at Solyndra] that never would've existed but for those massive government subsidies. And when those fake jobs disappeared because the subsidized employer company couldn't compete in the market, the workers blamed China (instead of what's easily one of the worst business plans ever drafted) in order to receive... wait for it... more government subsidies.
Behold, the Circle of Government Life."
~ Scott Lincicome
HT: Carpe Diem
I have to agree that subsidizing business plans that are not sustainable without large subsidies is a losing battle.
ReplyDeleteI do support science research funding though. We'll see if solar makes a breakthrough in efficiencies with all this extra funding. There's got to be more to solar that has a decent business case besides scientific calculators and garden lighting.
The government acting as venture capitalist usually works out very poorly for the taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteI do hope some private company somewhere revolutionizes solar energy to the point I can provided electricity and heat for my home very cheaply. I'd be willing to fork out some hard earned cash for that product.
When you sum it up like that, it is quite poignant. Thanks for sharing this quote. Like Sandy, I do support government-sponsored science research. There have been meaningful advances in sciences from both the public and private sectors. Some of these advances were directly profitable, but there are clearly other valuable measures with respect to health/science that many people agree on.
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