Subsidies not all evil
Do you like watching TV sent by satellite relays, use a GPS device to navigate your trips, use a cell phone? Thank the space program (tax subsidized). How about the big improvements in cancer treatments courtesy of the National Cancer Institute? Or writing off your home mortgage interest against your income at tax time?
Subsidies that serve a good purpose such as helping a fledgling industry become competitive or helping people become home owners can be a good thing. The meme that government needs to get out of the way so business can create prosperity for everyone begs the question of who will perform all those functions a modern society wants that don't automatically generate a profit for someone. Would you rather pay a bit more for a car with clean exhaust, good safety and steadily improving fuel economy or live in a dirty air (China comes to mind) get lousy gas mileage and drive a death trap?
Solar subsidies are a useful way to give a boost to an emerging industry that will lead to a healthier planet and a sustainable future.
