Chevy Volt a Failure - GM to Layoff 1,300

I think there are sufficient historical examples to the contrary to say 'not always.'

While disruptive innovation may occur as theory outside the confines of the corporation, the new idea is often only brought to practical fruition by grant of money and research made possible by the corporation's resources.

The transistor existed as an idea; a theory; even a series of patents as early as the 1920s. It didn't exist in fact until twenty years later when Bell Labs (and Westinghouse France) threw a haystack of cash and brain power at it.

 

Very true. And, I think what AQB may have been trying to point out was that a lot of Dems are all for cutting Defense, unless it means closing a base in their district, or cutting a weapons program that is built in their district.

And, if it's not what he meant to say, well then it's what I'm saying.

 

And a lot of Republicans are all for cutting domestic spending, unless it's a bridge or road or pork project in their district. What's your point?

 

I don't think it's fair to compare this too spending on the Volt.

For many Defense contractors, their entire potential market consists of the Defense Department. (Eventually other nations may also buy hardware and/or weapons, but not before the Defense Department does first.)

So, I'm not going to invest a lot of money trying to design a new fighter jet, or attack helicopter, with the hope the Department of Defense might buy it.

But, if I thought I could come up with a reliable, electric car, that could travel a great distance on a single charge, at a low price, I'd invest a lot of money, because the market is huge.

The market doesn't need government money.

 

That they're all hypocrites.

That's why we need to stop sending so much money to Washington. Giving them less money is the only way to get them spend less. (Well, paired with dome kind of balanced budget amendment, or some other means to prevent unlimited debt spending.)

 

Again, note that I was pointing out our $50 to $100 billion annual DoD cost overruns - which are greeted everywhere in patriotic silence - and comparing them to the howls of protest surrounding this relatively paltry one-time auto bailout.

The actual DoD budget is many times higher per year.

As a Constitutional aside, I don't think Article 1 guarantees a $1,000,000,000,000/year weapons development complex.

 

Take it up with the southern states. They typically spend way more than they give.

 

Sure it does. With all those penumbras and emanations, it's a living document, after all ...

 

I saw someone driving a Chevy Volt in town the other day. Ugly vehicle.

I think they were smoking weed too.

 

Grumble, grumble, grumble . . . boondoggle, defense . . . grumble, grumble.

247wallst.com/2012/01/09/the-10-most-expensive-weapons-in-the-world/print/

fcw.com/articles/2012/07/13/dod-denies-cbo-projected-cost-overruns.aspx

www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/army-report-military-has-spent-32-billion-since-97-on-abandoned-weapons-programs/2011/05/23/AGwuqjCH_story.html


Grumble, grumble, grumble . . . boondoggle, Wall Street bailout, trillions . . . grumble, grumble.

www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Total_Wall_Street_Bailout_Cost

spectator.org/blog/2011/08/23/the-12-trillion-fed-bailout-of