4 ms·

> How many academic scientists end up being buried in managing science, particularly seeking funding? Today?? 100% of successful scientists.

• 21723 5y ago
  This. When we look at the Soviet system, we don't think of it as having had much in the way of scientific or artistic accomplishments. There were some, and the practical engineering and economic achievements were nothing to sneeze at, but by and large the Soviet era is seen as somewhat of a dark age in terms of humanistic advancement, as indeed it was intended to be a transitional stage before communism, which the Soviets admitted had not been achieved. Our period is worse. We have the same stultifying bureaucracies, governmental and corporate, but with more advanced surveillance technologies. And while a 1980s Soviet bureaucrat might have been indifferent to excellence, 2020s corporate executives and venture capitalists and war barons are actively hostile to it, because it threatens their positions. In our era, we seem to have everything, but we are producing next to nothing, and we have gone from being one of the best-run to one of the worst-run societies in record time.
  • achenet 5y ago
    It ain't that bad. We have the internet, that's pretty neat, and there's enough good food to feed many people. Yeah you may have some people who are still mentally stuck in the feudal age, and yes it would be nicer if they got with the times are started trying to actually be useful instead of playing idiotic status games like chimps in suits, but I think by and large humanity does manage to produce nice things in spite of them. For example - this website. ^_^