Monday, April 27, 2009

Fiction

From Randolph E. Schmid, AP Science Writer (Yahoo Finance, Obama promises major investment in science, April 27, 2009), writing about Obama's call to spend 3% of GDP on science:
"We can do this," Obama said to applause.

The president drew chuckles when he added: "I want to be sure that facts are driving scientific decisions, not the other way around."

Obama said his administration would double the budget of key agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

He'll do that and simultaneously restore fiscal responsibility to the government. That's not science. That's fantasy.  Obama is talking about high-tech welfare.
 
U.S. R&D Spending as a percentage of GDP, 1953 to 2006

Link: Sources: Congressional Budget Office and National Science Foundation.

The private sector is perfectly capable of filing the gap.

h/t Drudge