[refurb]

A big part is how gov't money is doled out. It forces the gov't to pick winners and losers. And since politics always seems to permeate everything the gov't does, people start to question the decisions.

Even if it's something as straightforward as "green credits", the process can always be perverted to advantage one business over another.

[Tempest1981]

It's a tough balance. Often we (in the US) don't invest, then complain when jobs shift to other countries. We've seen so much bashing of $0.54 billion for Solyndra (a tiny gamble); but now most solar panels are made in China. Need to gamble, but wisely.

[webscaleizfun]

Not every investment will be successful either, as any person with a basic sense of business will know.