It's obvious that in the absence of state funding there would be non-state funding. It won't be the same and it won't be zero. Why does the committee's judgement take precedent?
Also, some poorer people would pay to fund research in the absence of gov't funding. They actually already do, for disease research.
You can use utilitarian arguments to force people to do things that they otherwise would refuse. Isn't that a kissing cousin to indentured servitude?
Also, do you knot think I understand the riskiness of research? As if I haven't endured a few decades of poverty as a result?
> It's obvious that in the absence of state funding there would be non-state funding. It won't be the same and it won't be zero.
From an economic perspective, it's likely the level of funding would be less than the optimal level of funding. If the goal is to maximize public welfare, government funding is necessary.
> Why does the committee's judgement take precedent?
Ultimately someone needs to make decisions on resource allocation. Is a committee necessarily the best way? Maybe, maybe not. I'm not qualified to tell NIH how to operate.
> You can use utilitarian arguments to force people to do things that they otherwise would refuse
Agreed entirely, it's a very difficult issue to grapple with.
Also, some poorer people would pay to fund research in the absence of gov't funding. They actually already do, for disease research.
You can use utilitarian arguments to force people to do things that they otherwise would refuse. Isn't that a kissing cousin to indentured servitude?
Also, do you knot think I understand the riskiness of research? As if I haven't endured a few decades of poverty as a result?