Letters From Readers
We received several letters about my previous editorial Presidents and Patents. A few people felt strongly about the issue and were moved to write about some points I missed.
Kevin, an Engineering Manager from Bolingbrook, IL wrote: “I just read your editorial for the latest edition and I have to say that it stirred up some emotions. I have a few comments for you to consider… Although I agree that government should participate in advancing R&D for manufacturing in the US, the best policy would be to leave innovation to the private sector. Government assistance should largely take part in the form of tax breaks and incentives for those companies involved in R&D. The problem is that the government does not make money, they spend it. If the program is currently under funded, then they need to get the money from somewhere. The choices are few. Take it away from another funded program, or raise more money through increasing taxes. Not very attractive options for folks trying to grow a business.
Robert, a professional engineer from Cincinnati, OH with 150 invention disclosures and nine US technology patents wrote: “Pushing technology into industry does not work. It must be pulled into industry by need, as needed and where needed, and it must be financed with private risk capital that is itself seeking direct rewards. Burning government money for that purpose is far too inefficient as it lacks the hard-edged discipline of private risk capital and the natural self-regulation of failure. The Just-In-Time entrepreneurial mentality is a much more effective model for funding R&D. I was there when the bottom dropped out of United States manufacturing industry. The reason for its demise had very little, if anything, to do with a shortage of R&D or of patents. The problem was that people in other parts of the world were willing to do engineering and manufacturing for substantially less money than we were. It is as simple as that. It continues to be as simple as that and no amount of government funding for US R&D is going to change that. In fact, any government funding of such activities will only serve to forestall the day of reckoning when we, as individual Americans, acknowledge and accept the truth and become willing once again to compete on equal terms with the rest of the world.”
Let us know what you think.
Kevin, an Engineering Manager from Bolingbrook, IL wrote: “I just read your editorial for the latest edition and I have to say that it stirred up some emotions. I have a few comments for you to consider… Although I agree that government should participate in advancing R&D for manufacturing in the US, the best policy would be to leave innovation to the private sector. Government assistance should largely take part in the form of tax breaks and incentives for those companies involved in R&D. The problem is that the government does not make money, they spend it. If the program is currently under funded, then they need to get the money from somewhere. The choices are few. Take it away from another funded program, or raise more money through increasing taxes. Not very attractive options for folks trying to grow a business.
Robert, a professional engineer from Cincinnati, OH with 150 invention disclosures and nine US technology patents wrote: “Pushing technology into industry does not work. It must be pulled into industry by need, as needed and where needed, and it must be financed with private risk capital that is itself seeking direct rewards. Burning government money for that purpose is far too inefficient as it lacks the hard-edged discipline of private risk capital and the natural self-regulation of failure. The Just-In-Time entrepreneurial mentality is a much more effective model for funding R&D. I was there when the bottom dropped out of United States manufacturing industry. The reason for its demise had very little, if anything, to do with a shortage of R&D or of patents. The problem was that people in other parts of the world were willing to do engineering and manufacturing for substantially less money than we were. It is as simple as that. It continues to be as simple as that and no amount of government funding for US R&D is going to change that. In fact, any government funding of such activities will only serve to forestall the day of reckoning when we, as individual Americans, acknowledge and accept the truth and become willing once again to compete on equal terms with the rest of the world.”
Let us know what you think.
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