We are immersed in a regular debate about a government's ability to play a constructive role in the market place.
The issue surrounds healthcare, subsidies for new industry (think alternative energy) and giant government programs such as NASA, DARPA, IARPA and agriculture.
I want the debate to include the decision by business not to produce the supersonic passenger plane called the Concorde and the European government's decision to produce and operate it.
I saw the inside of the Concorde. The seats were only comfortable for a small Japanese woman (much like the French TGV trains). No person could stand upright in the aisle if they were taller than 5'11”. The tickets cost more than a first class standard airfare. All this for a shorter time on a plane between very few cities.
Most cities were off limits to the Concorde because the noise from breaking the sound barrier was unacceptable.
I doubt the Concorde was ever profitable, over decades of operation.
Here is a wonderful example of a good business decision (don't do it) and a bad government decision.