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dc_dux · 06-26-2007, 06:22 PM

Mike...the examples you cited (IBM, Apple, CompuServe, etc) all benefited from huge investments in computer R&D (and grants to`industry like IBM) by the federal government from the 50s through the 80s.

In fact, the federal government has been at the foundation of developments in science and technology throughout our history.

Thomas Jefferson had a vision of strong federal support for science, largely through agriculture and Alexander Hamilton advocated government subsidies for the advancement of technologies for the benefit of economic and industrial development.

In a truly libertarian scenario to which I guess you subscribe, advances in medicine, science, computer technology etc if left solely to the private sector, would probably have occurred, but at a far slower rate. We all have benefited from the federal commitment to R&D, including the National Information Infrastructure that Gore's bill created and funded.

But I guess that is nitpicking.

06-26-2007, 06:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	Mike...the examples you cited (IBM, Apple, CompuServe, etc) all benefited from huge investments in computer R&D (and grants to`industry like IBM) by the federal government from the 50s through the 80s. In fact, the federal government has been at the foundation of developments in science and technology throughout our history. Thomas Jefferson had a vision of strong federal support for science, largely through agriculture and Alexander Hamilton advocated government subsidies for the advancement of technologies for the benefit of economic and industrial development. In a truly libertarian scenario to which I guess you subscribe, advances in medicine, science, computer technology etc if left solely to the private sector, would probably have occurred, but at a far slower rate. We all have benefited from the federal commitment to R&D, including the National Information Infrastructure that Gore's bill created and funded. But I guess that is nitpicking. __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 06-26-2007 at 06:30 PM..