Obama pledges 3% of GDP for science

Arrogant Despot

Note how he assumes, and assumes all his subjects acquiesce to the idea, that 3% of GDP is his to spend. The view this man has of the relationship between the people and the government is nothing less than perversion on the grandest scale.

May Bo bite him on the ass.

As long as flying cars are on the agenda...

I'd be happy.

Moon shot impossible

It's a good job the US has already got the going-to-the-moon thing out of the way. If some of the comments here by members of the US public are anything to go by there ain't a hope in hell that such a vision would get anywhere today. Sad really, once it was a country that led by example, aspired to do the impossible, to push the boundaries. Now it's just a nation of narrow-minded, myopic people bitching and moaning about government spending and their latest tax returns.

Truly the US's global leadership is lost - time to move over and let China take up the baton chaps.

Wait 3%?

Still seems like very little to me. 8% would be better to put it at around $1T..

Then you will see some real results.

Thumbs up because it's at least better than it was.

Compared with defence spending at 4.06% GDP...

...I'd say at least some of this investment might put a smile on someones face rather than ripping it off.

My god what might the USA turn into??? According to all the right wing pundits -Sweden!!

They wish!

I guess the problem is that right wingers havent been investing too much in tech/science industries recently for fear of godly reprisals.

In the past it was better to invest in firms that killed, destroyed and then rebuilt (well at least said they would try) countries.

hmmmm.

The key words here is high risk and long term, just because you spend more dosn't mean you will get anything back for it, let alone in a few years.

Not that spending money on technology is a bad thing if you have the spare cash lying around it appears to be a better investment than the banking system ^^, but at this point in time isn't there more important things to address? unless he knows something we don't.

Great news

Now this really is good news, not good for the UK though we need to do something similar. Investment is Science will bring serious financial benefits in the future if directly correctly.

So India wil be happy

As they said in 'Mosters vs Aliens' get our best brains on this one, somebody call India.

Now not so funny as its kind of reality.

Oh well, I hope my Indian overlords are kind to me when outsourcing some crappy IT support project.

We're bitching and moaning

Because there's no money to invest. The only way to fund this is through increasing the already monumental deficit he has planned - and investors are not getting as excited about T-bills, making the Fed run the printing presses. I can't wait for Obama's youthful, energetic portrait on the new hundred trillion dollar bill.

Arrogant Despot running dogs

@Latham: I resent having an ever higher proportion of my productive effort taken away from me without my consent and spent in ways of which I disapprove. Even if the goal is feeding a starving granny I suspect you would not want to get there by means of armed robbery.

@Mike: Yes, I see how a democracy works, you twit. The US is a constitutional republic with a constitution that enumerates the powers of the federal government. Those powers do not include the use of force to support scientific research. The method for modifying the constitution exists and involves actions by democratically elected representatives. This method of amendment has been used many times, but not for this purpose.

I am glad for scientific and technological research. It has made my life immeasurably better. increased the whole world's standard of living. Cretins in government are interested only in feeding their political power hunger and feathering the beds of their pals and campaign donors. Whoever supports the idea of making politicians and bureaucrats in charge of such serious affairs is either very, very stupid or is making his living sucking on the government teat.

@Mike

What does the US actually produce these days ?

They outsourced most everything to China and India, and the few industries they do have *cough*car*cough* are in the process of going titsup.

The US has gutted all their manufactuing and service industries, which seems to be at the heart of their debt problem. They don't produce anything, just just buy it in with increasingly crappier US dollars. Its sad that I see the UK and Australia (yes I am an Aussie) following them down the same road to the bankrupt cul de sac. I am happily up here in Canada, and staying here.

I saw your UK budget, and I really do feel for you, I expect our will be just as hairbrained, but at least we will have a faster fibre system than you.

All the Yanks produce these days is debt, and ways to loose wars slowly..

Mine's the one with "Made in China" on the label..

@ Andrew Fraser

Actually the UK was about the first western economy to enter the "we dont make anything anymore" scenario back in the late 70's.

We havent been an industrial nation for well over 25 years. Instead we went white collar economy of banking and commercial enterprises....which we've now also screwed up.

Thats one way Britain has always been 20+ years ahead of the rest of the western world.

I really dont know what else we have left to turn to. I feel so proud.