MarkI-ZeroPoint <zeropo...@charter.net> wrote: One can justify Govt’s responsibility to use PUBLIC, TAXPAYER funds for * > pure* R&D, and I’d go as far as some *applied* R&D, but that’s about it. > And the results of all that research should be FREELY available to any > taxpayer . . . >
I agree. Several members of Congress have recently proposed legislation that will ensure this. > Govt, because of the corruption which is inevitable with humans, and which > is rampant in this country and the world, will never do the right thing > when it comes to the sort of large subsidies and loan programs that we’ve > seen of late… > History proves you are wrong. Consider: There is no evidence that the government today is any more corrupt than it ever was. On the contrary, during and just after the Civil War it may have been even more corrupt. Yet this was one of the greatest era of Federal investment in infrastructure, universities and public improvements in our history. Most people agree that the railroads, land grant colleges, National Institute of Sciences and so on were splendid accomplishments. Despite the corruption, government did a good job. The same is true of the post-WWII era. Other institutions that do R&D, such as universities and corporations, are also deeply corrupt. Other institutions that fund research, such as Wall Street and the Chinese government, have reputations even worse than the U.S. government's. It is not as if some pure, disinterested set of institutions is waiting in the wings, prepared to take over the functions that the government has performed for 300 years. Naturally, there is competition among corporations, which puts a damper on corruption, whereas there is only one Federal government. But no one has suggested that the government should do *all* R&D from start to finish. It should only do that which is so long-term or so large that only the government can do it, such as launching the GPS system. It is reasonable to argue that the government should not be picking winners in a technology such as solar PV. On the other hand, China and all other countries are subsidizing PV manufacturers. I do not think it is a good idea for the U.S. to become an economic colony of China, incapable of manufacturing any core technology for ourselves. It is difficult to know how we can avoid that without the government playing an active role to counteract the Chinese government. One thing we can sure of is that they will not play our rules. It is not an easy question. Arguments on both sides have merit. I go not think there are clear answers. - Jed
