@Eventhorizon , perhaps this is a bit out of hand (renaming the thread to annoy you) and for that I apologize. I got pissed because I thought you questioned the $ 7 billion number but now I realize you were probably looking for specific research programs that were being cut and curious about the reasons. There is a lot written about corruption in scientific research and I am sure that does happen more often then most would care to believe.
My point was that the attack on research was being done with a machete (not a scalpel) and was mainly for political purposes. Not a few people in this country believe that the fossil fuel industry is deliberately obscuring the perception of scientific dissension on the causes and accelerents of global warming.
I believe that global warming is an existential threat to our nation, the nations of our allies and the world economic system. I also believe that it is not being addressed on a scale that would make a difference because there are vested interests in the fossil fuel industry that would be big economic losers.
Not surprisingly these interests are multinational and not a few are Russian oligarchs.
Thanks @James for stooping in and once again demonstrating your uncanny empathy.
Regarding the vote, I don't care one way or the other. I am simply interested in the actual truth of why "science" money is being cut from the budget. If that is best pursued by associating my name with the endeavor so be it. I don't know that I am defending Trumps policies as much as wanting to know what's actually happening before the bias of liberal media fabricates what's happening yet again.
By the way @Stu, why do you so intensely dislike James? This is very unexpected. Please PM me if necessary.
@invisible he doesn't (I hope) he was joking around and I didn't get it.
Currently, as I have insomnia and am kind of a geek, I was reading more about this March for Science.
It's really been a global thing. Here in the UK the science community are struggling to adapt to Brexit, and what that will mean, with so much of the research and work inter connected with EU scientists, finances, CERN etc.
NASA seem to have been spared from the severity of cuts they feared likely, though personally I think it's disappointing that the Europa mission is cancelled. I totally get that there may be better ways to spend the money, but I still think it's a pity.
I think further urgent research on "auto correct" is needed globally. That helpful function, is just about driving me crazy at present....
Put me on block then. I don't find you to be all that intelligent and as such generally just kind of put up with you like someone might put up with a drooling fool on a street corner that occasionally yells incoherent things at people as they pass by.. I'm sure that means something to you considering what you think of me. Still you dont have to be intelligent to contribute to society and you don't even have to contribute to society. One would hope you wouldn't be a burden but considering your embrace of socialist view points and ideals I cant see you as being anything other than a burden.I think it is utterly ridiculous that someone could claim to get a High Distinction average in an undergraduate degree, and to claim to be capable of curing cancer and AIDS, and at the same time to have ZERO concept of blue sky research, or what it actually takes to achieve scientific breakthroughs. It is intolerable. When you have spent most of your life obsessing over what it means to legitimately contribute to society, you lose your patience with it. I am all against ad hominem argument style, but you reach a point where you just get through with it. It's like trying to have a reasonable conversation with a dementia patient. It is all completely futile to try and be reasonable on a level with the person. In reality much more reasonable is "take your pills and for crying out loud, shut the fuck up."
Put me on block then. I don't find you to be all that intelligent and as such generally just kind of put up with you like someone might put up with a drooling fool on a street corner that occasionally yells incoherent things at people as they pass by.. I'm sure that means something to you considering what you think of me. Still you dont have to be intelligent to contribute to society and you don't even have to contribute to society. One would hope you wouldn't be a burden but considering your embrace of socialist view points and ideals I cant see you as being anything other than a burden.
Put me on block. Seriously. You'll be doing yourself and me a favor.