Some of that is a difference in eras of economics.  Solow comes from an intellectual framework -- and sort of a period -- in which there was greater emphasis on getting good answers, as opposed to the political horseshit that has characterized economics for the last 40 years or so.

One could perhaps draw a distinction between Solow and Samuelson there.  Not that I blame Samuelson for people like Lucas and Prescott (Lucas and Prescott ultimately own it), but he played a role in laying the foundation for those types.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.