Our Alternative Future may have to wait for a little while, especially if it is your contention that it will bring us not only clean air but also an abundance of jobs. Let's talk about some the solar energy sector shall we? In the US we don't make most of the world's solar panels, actually we are not even really in the running. Japan, China, and Germany are the star players of the Greek Sun God Helios.

What do we need to become the leader in Solar Technology and Manufacturing? Well, our researchers need to increase our current solar efficiency by about 2-3 times what they have in the last decade, in this decade. Not long ago, I was having this conversation with another innovative thinker who stated; "200% in 10 years is pretty bad, especially compared to how fast many other fields are developing. But I guess it is due to low grants in that field?"

No, it's because it is a rather hard challenge, our researchers are making decent progress, but we are not there yet. I am not a Mayan Sun Worshipper nor have I joined in on the research end of such projects, it's not my field, although I have sat in on far too many boring seminars, enough to understand the current research and trends. So, should we expect there to be a major innovation and a near-term break though in future in the United States?

Well, therein lies another problem, you see here in the US as soon as one of our research companies or universities makes a breakthrough, and writes a paper the Germans, Chinese, Japanese borrow the information and start production, and that research is being paid by the US taxpayer, and then the solar cells are made in China, Germany, or Japan.

Now then, that's fine for humanity, but new technology also takes away from old, the result in the US a net-loss of jobs, thanks to all the money I spent (as a tax payer) on research? How does this help my family? See what I am saying? So, we have some problems in the world with corporate espionage, spies, technology, patents, and false markets subsidized for the same vision we've had for 40-years.

Worse, the efficiency in solar still isn't good enough for a fair ROI by the end user without tax credits, so then I pay again as a tax payer for purchases of solar panels here in the US, but why? To support Germans, Japanese, or Chinese manufacturers designing and selling these solar cell panels and solar innovations. And when it comes to many nations the tariffs to export means they don't buy as much from the US of what we produce instead these countries buy our real estate, debt, and industries, basically they are buying the US instead of buying what we manufacture from us.

That's where the unbalanced trade flows are messing things up. We even lack in triangular trade flows, even if our farmers are making headway in bringing back money to the US in food commodities (this year anyway). Of course, in the US, well, it is just as ridiculous with all of the litigation, over regulation, unions, pensions, health care mandates, and corporate taxes pushing away jobs, re-investment, and competitiveness in global markets. Everything is inter-related but realize the alternative energy bubble is the biggest blunder balloon ever. It really isn't working all that well here.

So, perhaps you can understand why, I lack faith in the political promises of podium pushing politicians that their alternative energy future is viable or that it will create 4 million new high-paying jobs - not likely, it's just not in the cards. So, I remain convinced, and also note that it's going to take a couple more generations and a few breakthroughs, but it's not viable today. It's a lie to pretend. Further, just because we create these new innovations and technology, does not mean we will capitalize on it. Most likely it will be stolen, our patents infringed, and it will all go overseas anyways. Please consider all this, let's talk about reality.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

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