[TigersEye]

If only the gooberment had subsidized the Wright brothers we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We’d be out in the stable feeding the horses.

[GonzoGOP]

If only the gooberment had subsidized the Wright brothers we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We’d be out in the stable feeding the horses.

Well in a way they did, in 1906 they bought one plane for experimental purposes. They bought another one a few years later. They didn't buy in quantity until the bugs got worked out during WW I. And they didn't subsidize the Wright Brothers so that everyone could fly an airplane.

If the government wants to buy one car a year for testing purposes, like NASA buys X-planes to test aircraft, I have no problem with that. But subsidizing fleet production of a vehicle that can't sell without massive subsidies doesn't make economic sense.