Just because it cannot be measured well economically, basic research does not cause money to be "thrown down the sink". Most processes that create common goods

Just because it cannot be measured well economically, basic research does not cause money to be "thrown down the sink". Most processes that create common goods could be viewed as a financial net negative, but there is much more to existence than that. Basic research makes future developments not only economical, but possible. Laying fiber cable will not always be cheaper. Satellites can be built and operated by fewer people - and more economically - than the hundreds of thousands of crews you'd need to connect every remote place.