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Politics : A US National Health Care System?
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To: RetiredNow who wrote (14351)3/10/2010 10:31:25 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (2) of 42652
 
OT

Looking for any one industry to grow us out of high unemployment is not likely to be profitable, both because one industry by itself is unlikely to be able to do it, and because its almost impossible to plan, and difficult to even predict, the market forces of the future, exactly what will be demanded, and what can be cost-effectively supplied etc.

If renewable energy really is one of the major industries driving real growth going forward than it can pay for itself. If it can't than its a sign its no ready to be a real driver of growth. Funneling subsidies in to an industry from other more productive areas of the economy, does not a driver of growth make.

Which isn't to say that government investment in research in this area or any other is necessarily a bad idea. Only that if the possibility of it working productively its a very long term bet. And it won't be a driver of growth until its profitable without needing subsidies.

Also alternative energy isn't really one monolithic investment. Investing in the area, and picking the wrong thing, could just create malinvestment and extra debt, and a competitor whose start up costs are largely sunk. All of which can slow down other approaches that may turn out to be much better choices.
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