The author isn't concluding that only the government will fix things. He's concluding that, in the past, the government has used its vast influence and resources to successfully identify and tackle huge technological challenges. And the government has not done that lately.
Secondarily, he's pointing out that, a great deal of private capital is being funneled into trivial endeavors. The VCs themselves recognize this; many made their money by hitting the software start-up lottery, but now they want to "change the world" by funding something "big." But what do they find? Apps are still selling, apps are easy, apps are cheap. Science, on the other hand, is hard and risky. What to do?
Secondarily, he's pointing out that, a great deal of private capital is being funneled into trivial endeavors. The VCs themselves recognize this; many made their money by hitting the software start-up lottery, but now they want to "change the world" by funding something "big." But what do they find? Apps are still selling, apps are easy, apps are cheap. Science, on the other hand, is hard and risky. What to do?