Nice idea, but...

The New York Times today has a piece by Eduardo Porter on how beneficial Federal R&D is, and how the Feds deserve a greater share of the returns (to be re-invested in more R&D). This is argued strenuously by Mariana Mazzacuto in a new book soon to be published in the US.  I like the idea, but the political economy is against it--do we want the House Science Committee noodling any more than it already does with science funding? If basic science funding is a public good--and I believe it largely is--then the US (and the world) reap the returns in the form of long-term growth and prosperity.  What I would like to see more of is for the very high net worth individuals who have made their fortunes in science supported enterprises doing more to support it philanthropically.