In today's column, Dave dissects and dismisses the federal government's support for Green industries by saying it's failed to create jobs in the short term, so let's just all give up and commit suicide. He writes:
"The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimated in April 2009 that green jobs could account for 10 percent of new job growth over the next 30 years. Alas, it was not to be. The gigantic public investments in green energy may be stimulating innovation and helping the environment. But they are not evidence that the government knows how to create private-sector jobs." Our emphasis.
Awful Argumentation
Last time I checked, 30 years from 2009 would be 2039, not 2011. That's speeding up the timetable just a bit.
Intellectual Dishonesty
Notwithstanding that closely watched bellewether of public policy the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who ever said that the purpose of green industries was to create jobs in the short-term? Or to create jobs at all?
The purposes of green industry are to ensure there's energy after the fossil fuel runs out; to ensure the environment is at least moderately habitable for human existence and activity; and to keep up with the Chineses, who apparently are outdoing us in this sector.
Obscure References
"In 2009, Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School published a useful book called 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams.' He found that for each instance in which the government has successfully promoted entrepreneurial activity, there is a pile of instances in which it failed."
Yes, we've all read Lerner's tendentious analysis, but what about Kadiddlhoffer's counterargument? What? You haven't read Kadiddlehoffer? And you call yourself informed? Fool.
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