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This ARIA program’s budget is apparently only about 800 million pounds, which is a tiny fraction of UK’s overall budget of over a trillion pounds. These types

This ARIA program’s budget is apparently only about 800 million pounds, which is a tiny fraction of UK’s overall budget of over a trillion pounds. These types of highly speculative projects are inherently risky, making them unappealing for profit-driven investors. That’s why it’s important for non-profit organizations and governments to fund them. Scientific breakthroughs don’t happen in a vacuum. They are the product of dedicated research requiring years of consistent funding.

v5v3 1y ago
Cumulative interest is a b*tch though, put that 800m into the debt. You say the UK has a budget of a trillion, but around 70% comes from consumer spending. As consumers have been hooked on debt and hit with annual increases in every indirect tax they can think of.
- brokencode 1y ago
  I am not familiar with UK’s debt situation and am not disputing that they may need to balance the budget. But I don’t think the 0.08% line item for scientific research is where I’d start. Science is already deeply underfunded despite a disproportionately large impact on society in my opinion.
  - v5v3 1y ago
    It's not 0.08% in isolation, A further £20 billion a year was announced recently. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-uk-rd-with-record-204-billion-investment-at-autumn-budget https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-uk-rd-wi...
    - brokencode 1y ago
      All I can say is that it’s really sad how politicized science has become. Oil company propaganda has really done a number on some people.
- sealeck 1y ago
  > Cumulative interest is a b*tch though, put that 800m into the debt. Do you think that the return on investment into science is really less than 4.5% (interest rate on gilts) per year? > You say the UK has a budget of a trillion, but around 70% comes from consumer spending. 70% of government expenditure is consumer spending??? This statement is nonsensical.

v5v3 1y ago

Cumulative interest is a b*tch though, put that 800m into the debt. You say the UK has a budget of a trillion, but around 70% comes from consumer spending. As consumers have been hooked on debt and hit with annual increases in every indirect tax they can think of.

brokencode 1y ago
I am not familiar with UK’s debt situation and am not disputing that they may need to balance the budget. But I don’t think the 0.08% line item for scientific research is where I’d start. Science is already deeply underfunded despite a disproportionately large impact on society in my opinion.
- v5v3 1y ago
  It's not 0.08% in isolation, A further £20 billion a year was announced recently. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-uk-rd-with-record-204-billion-investment-at-autumn-budget https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-uk-rd-wi...
  - brokencode 1y ago
    All I can say is that it’s really sad how politicized science has become. Oil company propaganda has really done a number on some people.
sealeck 1y ago
> Cumulative interest is a b*tch though, put that 800m into the debt. Do you think that the return on investment into science is really less than 4.5% (interest rate on gilts) per year? > You say the UK has a budget of a trillion, but around 70% comes from consumer spending. 70% of government expenditure is consumer spending??? This statement is nonsensical.