4 ms·

All the more reason to take science out of the hands of the people they elect.

• BrandonMarc 12y ago
  This kinda makes sense. If you don't want to be subject to the whims of the US taxpayer, or the corrupting influence of Congresscritters / K Street, then you need to go elsewhere (charities, individuals, businesses) to get funding for your research. Of course, educating taxpayers would be helpful, so they can make better decisions. Along with educating Congress critters, and as far as K Street goes, either finding sympathy (unlikely) or planning to send some of your money there (more likely to work). Compared to those 3 challenges, finding a benefactor sounds a whole lot easier!
  • hackuser 12y ago
    US government research funding decisions are made by scientists, not politicians or taxpayers. Also, I don't know that 'benefactors' are any less corrupt than politicians or lobbyists (if we can paint any group with such a broad brush).
    • Tloewald 12y ago
      The decisions are made by scientists, but they're subject to hard restrictions (e.g. no funding for stem cell research) and behind the scenes political pressure.
• yongjik 12y ago
  ...and into the hands of those who got rich selling stuff to the very same people?