4 ms·
Our irrational prioritization of public spending is seriously disheartening. On one hand we have ITER, an international ~$20B R&D investment that pays dividend
by losteric 9y ago
Our irrational prioritization of public spending is seriously disheartening.
On one hand we have ITER, an international ~$20B R&D investment that pays dividends even if it fails - and America's 10% commitment is rightly seen as politically uncertain.
On the other hand, American's almost take for granted that we must spend $300B every year on war in the Middle East - for inarticulable and unquestionable reasons.
Imagine where we would stand if we turned just 10% of that fraction of our total military budget towards advanced R&D... commercialized fusion would literally revolutionize the world, and the technology would be an irresistibly compelling diplomatic carrot (esp. in the Middle East, in the form of cheap desalination)