I'm not clear about the comparison to the tech names of the past. Their demise was primarily attributed to their collective reluctance to depart from thier respective proprietary technical architecures and embrace open standards. In the case of DEC, it is very well known that the leadership there missed the boat entirely on the shift to micro-computing. Can the state pick winners? Probabaly not. What it can do is clarify regulations, simplify permiting, help drive down the cost of electricity that is so vital in bio/pharma research and manufacturing and fund research grants to name a few things. It can also do away with non-compete clauses in MA employmnet contracts. Some of the governor's proposals are on target. others not so much. But yes, government does have a role in bolstering our economic platform. However, it should perhaps focus on the legal, regulatory and educational aspects of that engine rather than attempting to make risky direct investments in companies.

I understand why those benefitting from the status quo in healthcare make demagogic analogies, but quite simply if healthcare cost are not addressed now, Massachusetts' companies of all types, new and old, will not be able to afford health insurance for their employees. This is a serious matter that Massachusetts must address ASAP. Future austerity should not be our only option. Louis Dusseault M.D.