Apparently the national ?research community? is up in arms because the federal government is ?cutting? its subsidies for scientific research. First, would that the feds were cutting anything of significance. Second, science prospers to the extent that it is private, particularly with regard to applied research and R&D. Third, the federal government does have a role to play in funding research, but only in areas where it is also likely to be a legitimate purchaser of technology or that which derives from the science being funded. The main example would be defense and aerospace.