If you want to understand how liberals view the relationship between individuals and the government, compare their reactions to the Solyndra scandal to their statements on Social Security reform. Earlier this month, Solyndra, the solar panel maker that received $535 million in federal loan guarantees and was touted as the symbol of President Obama’s “green jobs” initiative, declared bankruptcy and had its offices raided by the FBI.

The failure of a company Obama described as “a true engine of economic growth” has raised obvious questions about the advisability of squandering taxpayer money on such endeavors. But Obama’s surrogates have countered by arguing that failure is merely a natural byproduct of progress.