Regarding Mr Cherubini's contrarian comments regarding basic science and the
lack of obvious economic benefit to society, we should always recall the
Japanese physicist who, at the outset of WWII, had all his funding cut off
because he was working on the "ridiculous" subject matter of nuclear physics
and fusion. In retrospect, it is pretty obvious that both Joe 6 pack and the
generals of war from that nation were unable to understand the implications of
this basic research.
Tell us, then, Mr Cherubini, what sorts of long term economic benefits could
the Japanese government possibly have enjoyed from this "useless" research if
that researcher been fully funded to continue their study of nuclear fission?
Lucky for us Americans, his research was suspended.
C Rosamond
> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:10:32 -0400> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re:
> [ECOLOG-L] Palin laughs at fruit fly research> To:
> [email protected]> > I didn't know anyone measured the quality of
> basic science research in > such a manner. Applied scientific research,
> maybe, but not basic > scientific research.> > Dave> > Paul Cherubini
> wrote:> > David M. Lawrence wrote:> >> What's frivolous about basic research
> like this?> > > > What potential return on the taxpayer's investment> > is
> there from studying the health of an economically> > unimportant insect?> >
> > > Paul> > -- > ------------------------------------------------------>
> David M. Lawrence | Home: (804) 559-9786> 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804)
> 559-9787> Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> USA | http:
> http://fuzzo.com> ------------------------------------------------------> >
> "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo> > "No trespassing> 4/17 of a
> haiku" -- Richard Brautigan
_________________________________________________________________
Stay organized with simple drag and drop from Windows Live Hotmail.
http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_102008
