Don't Let "Green Jobs" Be Obama's Patriot Act

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How many times do we have to have examples of technology that starts out "not efficient" and no "entrepreneur" would (or could) touch it that ends up becoming cheap and pervasive before people like you shut up?
Not to mention, you DO know who built the Internet yes? We call them "The United States Federal Government". Heard of them? It was not until after they poured money into a system nobody else would build that we ended up with a pervasive system that enables you types to yap about how government can't do anything right.
There are now two green technologies that are nearing competitive pricing with coal. And, yes, solar *IS* one of them (does anybody read anymore, every "discussion" I see about solar is like reading the papers from the 70s, nobody is up on what's been going on these last three decades or so).
Every technology from cell phones to CDs to DVDs has started out expensive and available only to the wealthy. Until they hit mass production. Now they're cheap enough to be impulse buys for the kids. What's needed is an infusion of money to get us to mass production. Get it?
Such as thin film solar (look it up). If I had my way, the USG would start buying it by the truckloads and *giving it away*. Projections of the cost of thin film once it hits mass production put it competitive, if not whipping the pants off of, coal.
I am *so* tired of hearing about "entreepeenoors". The bulk of that is mere corporate propaganda. Very, very, VERY few things are created by the guy in his garage. And most of the time when that does happen, a corporation steals it (ask the guy who invented the easy change socket wrench only to have to sue Sears for THIRTEEN YEARS to get his patent honored.
Not to mention, I personally knew a guy who invented something that's on your telephone right now and millions of telephones worldwide and he went bankrupt.
And don't even start to say "Gates". His mommy was an IBM exec. If he did anything in the garage, it was yell at the guy who polished his Beemer.
Anyway.
If government infusion and support for basic infrastructure doesn't work, I say there's no Internet and you're having an hallucination. There also is no Amazon, no Google, no Yahoo, no Internet commerce, and no Internet millionaires.
Okay, so maybe there are (I don't know, I haven't read it) things in the Obama plan that will flop. Not everything works. And giving things to "entreepeenoors" isn't some kind of magic that'll make things that don't work suddenly work.
Funny how you "government doesn't work" types never question the government having nuclear weapons. If "duh goverment" is so incompetent, shouldn't you be worried about them having bombs that could obliterate whole countries?

Mark of TX 10:14AM March 07, 2009

I don't think we should be burying anything in any of the bills in Congress. Passing "projects" which are buried in legislation is irresponsible government and should be stopped.

CJ of IN 2:33PM January 01, 2009

Ron Paul

Jeff of WI 8:06AM December 26, 2008

Nice stuff, i liked your thought but i would appreciate it more if you aware and share this information with many. Please spread the word for our social and environmental well being so please try to post this on different green, CSR sites... as of now i could recommend you to JustMeans site. Many experts from energy, environmental and social industries and individuals in these sectors share JustMeans site to express their thoughts and debate on the same; they are using this site at large. If you would like to discuss and learn more on the topics of Green Jobs, Corporate Social Responsibility, Development, Energy and the Environment, Ethical Consumption, Politics and Governance, Social Investment, Social Media and Sustainable Business, then please do visit JustMeans site. I thank you for highlighting this issue on your blog.

Sandy Chan of NY 6:47AM December 26, 2008

Ancient Cherokee wisdom says that when a horse is dead, it is best to get off. I used to be a Republican because I believed in limited government, local control, and fiscal conservatism. After eight years of Republican leadership we've got excessive government in some areas, insufficient in others, less and less local control, and irresponsible fiscal policies that border on criminal. Hard to believe, but the Democrats did a better job of supporting conservative values on all fronts.
Show me a real live Republican and I might come back. Until then, I'm getting off that pony!

Tim of TX 6:15PM December 25, 2008

"Another case of failed industrial policy?"
Just because the Republicans are incompetent, you mustn't assume that Democrats are equally clueless. Perhaps because Democrats regard government as something other than just a means of personal enrichment, they are actually better at governing.
The record of the last two presidents suggests very strongly that Republicans are against big government because they have no idea what to do with one.
"not viable in the market"
As we survey the wreckage, we have to ask "what market?" The one that promises risk control, or the one that needs a government bailout when it screws up AGAIN?
This market we keep hearing about is not magical in any way. And predictions of disaster are meaningless, as we are already in the middle of one brought to you by the high apostles of entrepreneurial capitalism.

PanSkeptic of OK 10:26PM December 24, 2008