From Innovation to Commercialization

That's a highway that shouldn't be built. The policies that would make commercialization happen are lower taxes, less regulation, and for government to stay out of the business of picking winners and losers and to get the hell out of the way. I've seen first hand a number of regional and state "economic development initiatives," and frankly, I'm not impressed with the results. If an entrepreneur has a new idea or product, and there's a market for it, if he puts together a good plan and team to commercialize it, the private sector will fund it. When that doesn't happen, there's a good reason. In this area, if you strike out in raising private sector investment capital, you can go to all sorts of government entities, and they will fling grant money and incentives at you like stale rice at your cousin's wedding. I see way too many business tycoon wannabees in government - elected or appointed officials who couldn't start or run a business in the private sector to save their lives. But they are all too happy to "invest" the taxpayers' money in a real dog, then when it goes belly up, they just move on, no consequences, no loss to them. Others use the programs to do investment due diligence on the taxpayers' dime. Finally, whenever there's money to be spent, there's influence to be gained in deciding who gets it. You want to have even more of our government picking more losers, and then warping public policy to try to fit their picks after the fact? Can you spell ethanol?? No thanks. Give us a government of lower taxes and less regulation, and one that then steps aside and lets free markets work. We the people can pick the winners just fine.

jhammond

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