Too much is not enough...or is it?

Ooops. Here’s what happens when you take something that makes sense in the free market, building green, and sweeten the pot even further with excessive tax breaks.

A Nevada state assemblywoman had an idea in a flash: Encourage green building in Las Vegas by offering a tax break. How much of a break? Oh, say 50 percent – to make it attractive.

Three years later, the break has proved too attractive. The "flash of inspiration" could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

At least the environment is being helped with this error. Usually, it’s the other way around.