Because the government didn't make them for the people. It made them for itself (like a time of war), than afterwards allowed the free market to take it and run with it in whatever direction it wanted, since the government wasn't in the selling stuff business. For most inventions, they are started by the government (which builds a good foundation for them) and then the free market takes it over. The free market doesn't start a whole lot, it mostly just runs with what is out there and improves upon it.

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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

The govenrment has no clue how to make it available to the public at affordable prices. The govenrment is a huge monopoly that cannot compete in the marketplace.

The free market provides the product at affordable prices.

Funny that the situation that you are describing is akin to Fascism... LOL..

The government chooses not to get involved. If you look at other nations, Venezuela provides it's own, government produced, oil at $10 a barrel for it's citizens, that's proof that it is within the power of the government to do it right, however just like in the free market it can also do it wrong, but it is not intristically and automatically going to fail just because it is the government, there is no logically reasoning behind that. And other nations have done with different aspects of their economy as well.

The funny thing is that I did not describe any situation, only our history, that much of our technology comes directly from the government and government investments (mostly in the military). So if you think our past is fascist just because the government has a small action in the market, then you don't know what fascism really is.

__________________
Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

No it is not.. Does Venezuela have the food and meat too? What about the unemployment in Venezuela?

France? Unemployment is in double digits. and those that do work pay for them.

...and I will argue that SOME of the technology comes from the Government.. most comes from the private sector.

No, their unemployment is 8%, not double digits, and their inflation dwarfs ours, their misery index is much lower than ours. Unemployment is only an issue when the government doesn't care to help those in need.

Government makes the base and the private sector improves upon that. Then when the government needs something again (like in a new war), they improve upon it further than the private sector does and stays ahead until they no longer need it, then they give it back to the private sector to play with. When government (and it's people) put their mind on something, they almost always preform better than the private sector.

__________________
Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

Most of the inventions in the US were by the private sector:

Automobile
Light bulb
phonograph
radio
TV
Cotton gin
Most pharmaceuticals
to name a few.

Government is good at BASIC research but not when it has a blank check.

As for Venezuela.. There are shortages of FOOD, Building materials and other materials. You cannot declare that food prices will be lower than what it costs to bring them to the market and expect that there will be food..

Chvez tightens grip on Venezuela economy - International Herald Tribune


Unemployment in France is 7.5%.. almost double of what it was in the US prior to the democrats taking control of Congress and increasing the minimum wage..

When Clinton took office, it was said by Democrats that 6% unemployment was 100% employment.

Government run economies always fail..