We're going to end up with a bunch of companies that are so dominant / propped up by government that they can't fail ... but also can't compete or innovate or do much of any good for the economy.
halJordan•4mo ago
The prevailing sentiment here is the being American has no inherent value, and if you're not willing to admit that there is special American culture, and that that culture is better than the alternatives then you must admit that the Chinese model of state capitalism has extraordinary appeal.
If you admit that America & Americans are special then yeah this is antithetical to that thing.
But also having said that this reaction is more anti-Trump than anything else. It's long been obvious that America needs these (and other) critical mines working. And the private sector has steadfastly refused to do it. Govt ownership is the final option and it's obviously been the final option for a few years now.
duxup•4mo ago
I honestly had trouble following what you’re saying.
lesuorac•4mo ago
Where do you that sentiment from?
The sentiment is that when the Government picks winners then they also remove other companies from the market. The lack of competition causes that winner to stagnate to the point where they can only compete in a market with no competition.
It's not obvious that the US needs _those_ mines. What the USG should be doing is saying that Lithium is an essential mineral and accepting proposals from _any_ company about how much money they need to produce x KG of refined lithium and then going through those proposals for feasibility and then awarding contracts to the cheapest feasible ones. Instead, the USG has just straight up picked a winner and thrown money to them.
Keep in mind that Lithium Americas is "North American" (Canadian) so if anything its evidence of American unexceptionalism ...
duxup•4mo ago
We're going to end up with a bunch of companies that are so dominant / propped up by government that they can't fail ... but also can't compete or innovate or do much of any good for the economy.
halJordan•4mo ago
If you admit that America & Americans are special then yeah this is antithetical to that thing.
But also having said that this reaction is more anti-Trump than anything else. It's long been obvious that America needs these (and other) critical mines working. And the private sector has steadfastly refused to do it. Govt ownership is the final option and it's obviously been the final option for a few years now.
duxup•4mo ago
lesuorac•4mo ago
The sentiment is that when the Government picks winners then they also remove other companies from the market. The lack of competition causes that winner to stagnate to the point where they can only compete in a market with no competition.
It's not obvious that the US needs _those_ mines. What the USG should be doing is saying that Lithium is an essential mineral and accepting proposals from _any_ company about how much money they need to produce x KG of refined lithium and then going through those proposals for feasibility and then awarding contracts to the cheapest feasible ones. Instead, the USG has just straight up picked a winner and thrown money to them.
Keep in mind that Lithium Americas is "North American" (Canadian) so if anything its evidence of American unexceptionalism ...