re:  America's future lies with Jetsons, not Flintstones

In discussing innovation, job creation, and capital investment, Thomas Friedman hints at some of the recipes for success but seems to remain transfixed by his belief that we in the US would be better off if we emulated China — and he continues to support policies that run counter to what would help make the US economic climate more competitive.

It isn't government incentives or direction that we need more of — such government intrusion on the marketplace skews development and innovation towards the pet projects and political cronies of those in government power, and politicians don't have the knowledge and understanding of what consumers want or what would power innovations.

Rather than government incentives, we need to remove the government disincentives to investment and innovation.  Our current corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world — and the Obama Administration is welcoming its forthcoming increase, while advocating higher taxes on capital investment.  To paraphrase Paul Otellini (the Intel executive quoted by Friedman), this raises the "cost of operating ... after tax".  Additional taxes and mandates associated with health care "reform" and "cap-and-trade" proposals by President Obama would only further raise the cost of doing business in America — and make foreign markets more appealing by comparison.

If we want an American economy that hums along with Jetsons-like efficiency, we need to stop taxing ourselves into the Stone Age.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX