re:  Season brings reminders of U.S. reliance on China

In discussing what she sees as a "strength" of China — their government's emphasis on investments in solar panels, high speed rail, and other so-called "green energy" technology — Froma Harrop misses a couple of points. 

First of all, when China's government "open[s] the national treasury", what that really means is that the government is spending other people's money; individuals and families aren't choosing for themselves how to spend their own money, China's unelected, unrestrained, despotic leaders are deciding instead.  Perhaps instead of a 300-mph train ride between Beijing and Shanghai, the more than 1 billion Chinese living on incomes less than $2000 per year might prefer better living conditions.

Secondly, scarce resources have alternate uses.  Perhaps solar panels or wind turbines are a good investment, but who's to say they are the most efficient allocation of capital?  By investing in technology that the government chooses, China may be missing out on some other technology that is ultimately more effective and economical.

I trust a free, open, competitive marketplace to be more efficient at allocating those scarce resources than command-and-control from a centralized government.  History, specifically the 20th Century, would suggest that my trust is well-placed.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX