Global warming?

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

However to say all, or even a majority, of our progress was government funded is ludicrous. The antithesis of free enterprise, and make us more under control of the government.

Yes, to make an absolute statement either way is ludicrous. Both the private industry and government R&D have played a very large role in creating the technology we see today. Some technology is cheaper to develop and has an obvious economic gain so it is created solely in the private industry. Some technology is extremely expensive to create or does not have an obvious economic gain so it is developed under state R&D and then eventually private industry will take over and make it big. But when it comes to alternative energy, government R&D has already and will continue to play an extremely large role.

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Doesn't answer the question as to why they would throw millions of dollars away into a part of the country that is literally awash with hydro-power.

He shouldn't answer the question because the question has no basis in reality. The current problem with Pacific Northwest is that there was an unusually high amount of water from snow melt this year, not with government officials throwing millions of dollar away. Your source even acknowledges that in the third paragraph. The problem could have been prevented but the solution to that still involves investing in alternative energy.