[AFreeBird]

But if it doesn’t get me pollution-free power or a 300mpg auto, why waste *my* hard earned dough on it?

How do you expect them to come up with those things, if they don't study stuff?

Magic?

[ASOC]

Did the FedGov invent the internal combustion engine? Nope, the diesel? Nope.

Jet engine - marginal, they did pay for additional engineering work.

Atom bomb - yup, the FedGov did that one.

But you have to admit the Chia pet was privately funded.

I'll grant that most technology we use today had the FedGov as the midwife at least.

With Universities sitting on billions, maybe they could pony up more and hold the patents for selling any good tech that comes up.

(yes, I did my taxes today...)