You said that “giving the private sector an incentive to solve a problem rather than waiting for government to do it sounds like conservatism.”

You’re confusing the natural incentives provided by the market place versus the false incentives provided by government. Government incentives are central planning boondogles and they result in failure. It’s why I mentioned the ethanol fiasco. McCain’s offering of prize money for a car battery (aka Welfare for Inventors) is problematic for several reasons.

First, McCain is determining what the market needs—a car battery. What makes McCain think the market needs a car battery? And this, after he mentioned in the debates that he knows nothing about economics.

Second, the idea that we should look to government is not a conservative proposition because government isn’t part of the market place. Looking to the government for a “prize” handout is an automatic disqualification as a conservative. Why? Because you’re saying that the free market can’t do it alone. Is that what you believe Kate?

Third. Kate, where do you think this money comes from? My taxes. Nothing in the Constitution authorizes this prize giveaway. It’s my money and I have no problem paying $5 per gallon of gas. Don’t steal my money to give it away.

Fourth, government isn’t solving the energy problem, the free market is. However, government is getting in the way. It has, in fact, created the problem. Like McCain, Forbes wants to put more government in the path instead of getting government out of the way.

Fifth, there is no energy crisis. There is inflation from printing too much money. There is less oil because the federal government restricts the market place.

Instead of cutting the size of the federal government, Forbes is proposing the same McCain give-a-way welfare handout for inventors and I suspect this is why he’s receiving little support. It’s kind of like Bush’s “faith based welfare.” There’s no faith to it. It’s all tax based.