Mike the Mad Biologist Asks A Very Good Question

What Are Universities Spending Their Money On?

I Am Glad I Am Not A Member Of Congress

After reading Dems Play FISA Right (Again?!) by Mike the Mad Biologist, my head hurts.

What The World Needs Now Is Guns Sweet Guns

Here’s Mike The Mad Biologist:

Defense spending increases faster than inflation, while discretionary spending--including biomedical science--has the pie 'grow smaller.'

This is the context in which science policy is made. There is no science fairy that places research funds under your pillow. Research requires appropriations. And for those who argue that private companies and foundations will pick up the slack in basic research, you're very, very wrong. In my previous job, I spoke pretty frequently with people in drug companies and foundations, and they will not fund most basic research. It's about as realistic as a herd of magickal ponies funding basic research.

So if ScienceDebate 2008 happens, will anyone ask the candidates about this?

Yeah, I didn't think so, either...

For some reason reading Priorities: Guns or Biomedical Science? inspired me to bastardize the old Jackie De Shannon song What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love:

What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns
They’re the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns,
No not just for some but for everyone.

Lord, we don't need another poet,
There are poets and songwriters enough to rhyme
There are authors and journalists enough to write,
Enough to last till the end of time.

What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns
They’re the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns,
No, not just for some but for everyone.

Lord, we don't need another teacher
There are teachers and professors enough to show
There are scientists and researchers enough to probe
Oh listen, lord, if you want to know.

What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns
They’re the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is guns, sweet guns,
No, not just for some but for everyone.

No, not just for some, oh, but just for everyone.