What research should be funded? "Red dots on a Chinese caterpillar" or "Evil Effects of fast food" (interstate, illegal)

[Scientist27709]

In the present economy, all research considered wasteful (such as the study conducted by some chinese researchers on the beautiful red dotted patterns on a chinese caterpillar) should be abandoned with immediate effect. No funding should be granted to such unnecessary projects. Instead, we should focus our attention and channelize our resources in studying something that has a significant impact on human health and economy. Please feel free to express yourself. No trolls, no personal attacks, just say what you want to and keep quite. Please see the "Great Debates" guidelines before replying. Good luck!

[GregW]

I completely disagree. All scientific investigation should be funded because we know so very little about our universe and have no idea just what is going to be valuable. I do not think we have the wisdom to consider what is wasteful and what is not.

Eventually almost all of what is learned by scientists about the universe is turned into products by engineers and profits by businessmen. On the way many people become much more prosperous.

[texdav]

I think today most research is based on politics . So much public funding is wasted and only a political means of funding universities and people.It like most thionk bridges are good but the bridge to nowhere is a waste.

[GregW]

Too true about research and politics Tex. However, research, even really weird research, is more beneficial than a bridge to nowhere or a backpack atomic bomb.

[WFW&P]

I think they should research exactly how much fuel is wasted when not driving in a perfectly straight line on the interstate.

[Tin Knocker]

I'm not sure if China cares what we think they ought to research.
What we should do is research a way to seal the borders, deport over 12 million illegal immigrants & turn America back into a profitable country.

[mark6052]

so some of you think its a waste of money to study the bi-sexual habits of the polish toad, or why prisoners want to escape from prison. I guess I wont apply for a grant to study why older men like looking at young beautiful women. I was so wanting to help mankind.

[Cliffie]

Well the problem here is that it's very hard to say in advance what research will be fruitful. "Pure" research or just doinking around in the kitchen with moldy bread is what brings us most of our big breakthroughs. Now if those caterpillars' spots have implications for computer-optics technology, why not go ahead? Anyway, that's the Chinese gummint's money and not my problem. I'm happier to see someone come up with something useful from that than seeing millions of dollars and FTEs wasted on something superficially medical, like the study my boss found in one of his medical journals with half a dozen doctors' names on as co-researchers. It established once and for all that the weight people put on when they take certain antipsychotics is...made of fat. My boss estimated they were paid $36 million to chase down that elusive truth. Give me a BREAK.

[tinynot]

China can do whatever research they want, I don't care. I do not think it is very hard to see which projects, especially Pork Barrel projects are a waste of money and time for our government. In 2012, a grant was awarded to a dairy to promote their cheese, but the dairy, in fact, doesn't even make cheese. Federal agencies study relationship breakups on Facebook. 1.6 billion spent to maintain federal property that is not used nor needed. National Science Foundation spends a million to study if stressed out birds make good parents.

We have a federal deficit? Political BS.

[Mack Knife]

Evil effects of fast food. No such thing as evil effect of fast food so we can dispense with that right away.

Not sure about "our" resources either since that means tax money and almost all the research that drains our resources is not much more than payola. If we want people to eat healthier, let them keep more of the resources they work for so they can buy better food. If we want a better society, how about letting people retain more of their resources so they can work less for the government and more for themselves, actually work less? In general, on average people work 6 months a year and see very little for it.

Research that would really benefit society? How about research that determines to the extent practical, how much better off we'd be if we worked more for ourselves and less for government?