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"Rich people fund research universities after getting rich" seems like a far less efficient way to fund research universities than not letting them get so rich
by Frondo 8y ago
"Rich people fund research universities after getting rich" seems like a far less efficient way to fund research universities than not letting them get so rich in the first place.
I'd prefer the direct route of funding them from the public coffers than waiting on the largess of rich people to fund them decades after their fortunes have been made.
- WalterBright 8y agoWealthy people have often funded very valuable research that the government had no interest in: 1. rockets 2. radar 3. jet engines Government research is directed by politics, which usually means safe, non-controversial topics, and money directed at politically connected scientists. There's nothing "efficient" about that.
- Frondo 8y agoPrivately funded research is directed by one person's politics, which is far, far less good than the politics of a democratic state. Or maybe you trust rich folx to call the shots? I don't. The world's moved on from monarchy.