Monday, October 03, 2005
Ronald Bailey, in an article over at reason, points out one unintentional consequence of Bush's funding restrictions:
I find it amazing and heartening that the non-Federal sector has stepped up and committed 16.4 times that what the Feds have (assuming $243 million over a decade from NIH) and makes me wonder what other areas might be better served by a switch to non-NIH funds for some areas. Look, I'm no utopian Libertarian, I know there are areas of research (and specific parts of some general areas) which won't be funded privately because they don't show any promise of profit anytime soon. And I know that a lot of this funding comes from other government bodies ; but I think there are areas that now suckle off of Uncle Sam's breast who need to be kicked out of the Treasury nest and find their own funding. This would free up a lot of cash for more "pure" research projects, and advance our nation's general knowledge of science. Just my thoughts. |