A better argument would be: * Applying Bastiat's arguments against govt-funded arts to science: http://mises.org/daily/3806 http://mises.org/daily/3806 * Tere

A better argument would be: * Applying Bastiat's arguments against govt-funded arts to science: http://mises.org/daily/3806 http://mises.org/daily/3806 * Terence Kealey's talks on govt vs private science: http://archive.mises.org/13017/terence-kealey-science-is-a-private-good-%E2%80%93-or-why-government-science-is-wasteful/ http://archive.mises.org/13017/terence-kealey-science-is-a-p... * Rothbard's paper on Sci/Tech/Govt: http://mises.org/rothbard/science.asp http://mises.org/rothbard/science.asp * Govt tech outdone by high school students: http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/Students-balloons-reach-edge-of-atmosphere/-/13550662/18096918/-/a5oamf/-/index.html http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/Students... * NASA inventions actually came from private institutions: http://mises.org/daily/2434 http://mises.org/daily/2434 However, no matter your argument the chance of influencing people on HN is quite low. There is a reason why terrorist groups seek out engineers (via Rory Sutherland): http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2009/12/buildabomber.html http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/200... Very few of them would put their trust on the free market. What if the market chooses to develop food/shelter technologies instead of space exploration? We can't have that! (sarcasm)