Jeff Taylor is right to be skeptical about the government’s ability to pick winners and losers in biotech or any other field. Here’s the fundamental reason why that never can work: You don’t get good decisions from people who have nothing to lose from being wrong. I’m talking about politicians here. When they spend tax dollars, there is no incentive to use them wisely, and lots of incentives to squander them on powerful special interest groups. If biotech or anything else makes good sense — that is, will be profitable — businessmen will find out about it and invest money. The government no more needs to get involved to promote needed businesses than it needs to get involved to make sure the sun rises.