In response to this column on green technology and China in the Chronicle by Thomas Friedman, I sent the following letter:

re:  Electric cars a 'moon shot' project for China

Thomas Friedman, as usual, sings the praises of the supposedly forward-looking approach taken by the oppressive, totalitarian government of China.  This time, the subject is electric cars, and the so-called "game changing moon shot" that he believes Chinese investment in electric car technology and production represents.

What he seems to forget is that these investments are not made voluntarily, but rather confiscated from Chinese citizens.  It's amazing what a government can accomplish when it has a nearly unlimited pool of funds from which to draw.  The Chinese government doesn't have to worry if they are allocating their resources efficiently because there is no accountability.  The government can keep spending, unworried of repercussions for choosing the wrong investments; the "bail out" is built in.  Meanwhile, over half of the Chinese population lives in extreme poverty.

Here in America, investors tend to supply capital only to those ventures that show promise in providing an actual return, not merely the favorites of syndicated columnists — even Pulitzer Prize-winning ones.  If electric cars are such a great idea, then perhaps they wouldn't need "market incentives" (read:  government mandates or forced investments, aka subsidies); consider that very few people required government intervention to prompt the move from horses to automobiles.  Instead of confiscating more money from people to spend on what Mr. Friedman (or some politician getting campaign cash) thinks is best, I prefer letting individuals decide.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX