Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth
The government is in the business of encouraging people to do things which need doing but are too risky to do without assistance.
The government encourages folks through tax breaks, guaranteed loans and in many other ways I am sure.
Just making business expenses tax deductable is an encouragement. Meals being deductable supports our food industry. Mortgage interest being deductable supports loans......and so forth.
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I know that is what the government has been doing. But because the government has been doing something is not reason alone to keep doing the same thing. I believe with a moment's reflection you and I will agree with that premise and conclusion.
Now, government is, by definition, a political process. Thus, whichever political entity is in power at the moment gets to choose the winners and losers of government beneficence.
Currently, the cause du jour is solar panels. Some proportion of people will like government 'helping' get the industry started.
Previously, it was ethanol. There is a strong contingent that thinks ethanol is a fine idea, worthy of government subsidy.
Maybe next week it will be windmills. Or sail-assist maritime vessels.
Has any of this crap been proven to work, without a pre-ecisting market? And if a market already exists, why is the gov subsidizing private business in a money-making venture?