It’s not government’s job to innovate

Steve Maslen, Las Vegas

Monday, June 14, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

I read the Las Vegas Sun’s June 6 editorial, “A smart investment — President’s vision includes investment in renewable energy, high-tech areas,” and all I could think of is this is what is wrong with America.

I agree that we need a smart economic policy, but to cite places like Europe as having one is beyond me. The only reason Europe is advancing in renewable energy is it has taxed traditional energy to the extent that renewable sources of energy are competitive.

The editorial then goes on to give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accolades and says, “We’re truly in a global economy, which requires the federal government to take a leadership role,” thus insinuating that the government is the U.S. economic engine.

The editorial is right, however, when it quoted President Barack Obama, who said, “The United States of America did not become the most prosperous nation on Earth by sheer luck or happenstance. ...” The reason for this is freedom and the private sector — regular Americans — who took risk and made the best they could. It certainly wasn’t the government!

The whole tenor of the editorial is how great government is. I don’t buy it. The government needs to get back to its core principles and duties and let the “people” do what they have always done in America — be exceptional.