Exactly. "Economist" is about as broad a term as "Politician". Personally, I identify with the Austrian school of economics. But, there are many other camps and you can find someone to try and back up just about any scenario out there. The fact that someone with a title is willing to say something doesn't make it automatically "right."

I think the parent poster is just alone on Christmas Eve and in a particularly foul mood.

Hello, and welcome to Slashdot. It seems you are having trouble understanding how this site works. You posted a comment that people with mod points felt was pure and complete flamebait. You are not entitled to an appeal. Posting a reply to your own post which was already modded as flamebait is both bad form and also demonstrates that you are having self awareness issues.

Please enjoy this site responsibly in the future.

P.S. you seem very angry. Why are you in such a grumpy mood on Christmas Eve?

There is a thing in this country that you many not be familiar with, I call it "choice." If you choose to live Nowhereville USA, you may not have broadband or cable TV. Therefore, if you live here and want to start the next IBM, Apple or Microsoft, you can and should pack up and move somewhere like California.

For the uneducated, if you choose to live in FL, you may in fact get hit by a hurricane. If you choose to live on the Big Island of Hawaii, you may find a lava flow in your front yard. If you choose to live in South Dakota, you might find it difficult to find Filipino food. If you live where I live, you won't be able to shop at a Best Buy store.

None of these things are inherently the problem of your fellow Americans.

The problem is, even if Obama's people are great- integrity that rivals the Founding Fathers and what not... they're only in for 4 years... 8, tops. Then, someone else gets control of everything they masterminded. Up goes the great firewall and what not.

This is why government always needs to be limited. We've seen this problem over the last few presidencies with abuse/stretching of executive power. Look at executive orders, pardons, etc. What happens if a present-day Hiter gets democratically elected? Do we trust this kind of guy with the monarchy-style executive powers Jr. and Sr. Bush and Clinton enjoyed?

Yeah, but there is one government, and lots of private companies, so at least you have a choice. Also, I wouldn't say our government is good at adhering to the Constitution.

Quite well said. The proof is in the pudding... the initial space pursuit was between a capitalist country and a communist country.

Only one island has Volcanic activity. And unfortunately, many locals are against geothermal because of their spiritual beliefs regarding Pele, the volcano, etc.

I'm all for having your own beliefs, but come on, the world is turning. Get over it. Beliefs like this keep this state in the dark ages.

A private entity is trying to start up a wind farm on Lanai and sell the electricity back to Oahu.

Holy flying crap, this is EXACTLY the way it should be done. A private party doing this, with their own money, their own risk, and they get rewarded with profit if successful. The taxpayer takes no risk.

Like all things in Hawaii, the project may never happen due to the years of red tape, permitting, bureaucracy, etc. involved. Of course, when government effectively shuts this project down due to red tape, we will hear how the "free market failed us once again." And then, government will come in with a billion dollar half-assed solution that never works and continues to cost money year after year. I love our government.

That sounds like a post from someone who has nothing, and only has himself to blame for it. It sounds like a post from the type of person who would rather vote himself a pay raise, rather than studying, learning, and working harder and smarter.

I suppose that on the receiving end if the gravy train, it probably makes you feel much better if you call it "sharing".

Sadly, most of the country seems to feel that it is perfectly fine and not immoral, meaning the only thing left to do is fight over the handouts.

Couple this with the fact that stupid people are beeding the most, and it becomes obvious that we are doomed.