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I agree we should look at multiple possible paths for renewable energy, but to say that they shouldn’t work on this, is a bit far fetched. This assumes the res

I agree we should look at multiple possible paths for renewable energy, but to say that they shouldn’t work on this, is a bit far fetched. This assumes the researchers working on fusion can work on the other renewable energies, when that’s typically not the case with highly specialized fields. Further, estimating the time it takes for advancement with the described time magnitude is a frivolous pursuit, if you put any weight behind it. Within 5 years, sure let’s predict. But at 30 years, now we’re talking a bit too far into the future. It’s much harder to guesstimate what will occur from now to then. Lastly, if we assume it will take 30 years to produce a working model, then that only assumes we’re working on it today. If we could, let’s say, divert all scientists away from fusion research onto other renewables, the 30 year estimate would be perpetually pushed until we start working on it once more. Let’s have people who are passionate about their field pursue as many paths to solving the energy crisis as possible. We could have a breakthrough sooner than 30 years, which I would place money on.

throwaway744678 6y ago
Your argument is sound, but the issue is also budget allocation: financial resources are not infinite, and we must choose how to allocate them.
- pueblito 6y ago
  That's a very good point, we need to allocate much more towards fusion R&D
- f6v 6y ago
  There’s so much things to divert budget from to fuel energy research. Completely unrealistic, but think luxury cars, football player’s salaries, just to name a few.
  - VyperCard 6y ago
    Coal subsidies …
  - tenuousemphasis 6y ago
    Military industrial complex? Billionaires? The things you mentioned are literally nothingburger.
    - adventured 6y ago
      It's very clearly not a nothingburger. High paid professional athletes in the US today have the income of billionaires. Professional athletes earn around $200 billion in league salary each decade (it excludes endorsements, which tilts the point that much further if included). It's far more than all S&P 500 CEOs combined. Just the three major sports leagues in the US are at around $14 billion per year in salary. That excludes coaches, which now have very high salaries as well. Stripping it down further, all NBA players combined (a mere ~450 players or so) earn more in salary every year than all the S&P 500 CEOs combined. As of 2019 there were 122 players in Major League Baseball earning $10 million per year or more. The top 30 NBA players earn a combined $1 billion every year. Pretty funny, the notion that ~$80+ billion in income taxes every ten years, is supposedly a nothingburger. It's a lot of tax revenue, even if it pales next to US Military spending.

throwaway744678 6y ago

Your argument is sound, but the issue is also budget allocation: financial resources are not infinite, and we must choose how to allocate them.

pueblito 6y ago
That's a very good point, we need to allocate much more towards fusion R&D
f6v 6y ago
There’s so much things to divert budget from to fuel energy research. Completely unrealistic, but think luxury cars, football player’s salaries, just to name a few.
- VyperCard 6y ago
  Coal subsidies …
- tenuousemphasis 6y ago
  Military industrial complex? Billionaires? The things you mentioned are literally nothingburger.
  - adventured 6y ago
    It's very clearly not a nothingburger. High paid professional athletes in the US today have the income of billionaires. Professional athletes earn around $200 billion in league salary each decade (it excludes endorsements, which tilts the point that much further if included). It's far more than all S&P 500 CEOs combined. Just the three major sports leagues in the US are at around $14 billion per year in salary. That excludes coaches, which now have very high salaries as well. Stripping it down further, all NBA players combined (a mere ~450 players or so) earn more in salary every year than all the S&P 500 CEOs combined. As of 2019 there were 122 players in Major League Baseball earning $10 million per year or more. The top 30 NBA players earn a combined $1 billion every year. Pretty funny, the notion that ~$80+ billion in income taxes every ten years, is supposedly a nothingburger. It's a lot of tax revenue, even if it pales next to US Military spending.