To expand/clarify quotes from me found in the article "Blog takes critical eye toward the MDC".....
"They're not failing because they're doing it wrong. They're failing because they can't do it right. It's not in the cards for that type of structure to do this right. That's what the market is for."
The phrase "they are failing because they can't do it right" is not altogether that clear. It has nothing to do with the actual people on the MDC board or staff. What this speaks to is the idea that no one can do this right. Not me, not Republicans, not Democrats, nor sinners or saints.
If a company has decided to relocate to Midland without having been offered an "incentive" then there is no reason for the MDC to become involved*. On the other hand, any company that requires an incentive to relocate to Midland has, by definition, already decided that it is not in their best interest to relocate here.
In short, the MDC gets involved only after the market has rendered a decision and then it seeks to "correct" that decision. And the MDC's sole weapon for "correcting" that decision is to transfer money from taxpayers to these companies in an amount sufficient to get them to rescind their initial decision.
So when I say that they/me/others can't do it right I am saying that it is not possible for six political appointees to ever possess enough information or expertise in any given industry (let alone the variety of industries courted by the MDC) to arrive at a decision that is more correct or optimal than what has already been arrived at by the market itself.
"It seems like it's something that's OK to do locally, but if it's done at the state or national level then it's interference in the marketplace."
Midland is a pretty Republican town full of self-described "fiscal conservatives". They purportedly abhor "government interference in the marketplace". Except when they don't, I suppose. Right or wrong, I at least have the comfort of remaining consistent on this principle. But locals who think "investing" a bunch of taxpayer money in a local company with an unproven aircraft engine technology is a good idea should forfeit the right to rail against the Obama administration for pouring a bunch of taxpayer money into Solyndra. Shouldn't they?
* Which is not to say that they won't. See Apache agreement.