Is anyone else concerned that China boosted science funding just as we cut ours?

[Nemesis 1]

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

You got a picture of the missing link fella. If not theory is just that theory,

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

I don't think that's as much a hindrance as you say. China may limit political freedoms, but it actually heavily encourages scientific development almost to the point of indoctrination, from my personal experience. The two are rarely in conflict.

Not true. China has a seriously hindered scientific community. It stifles new ideas from young minds. Senior scientists have the final say, always. Regardless if the science is valid or not.

Hmm.. I don't doubt that, though I think that's more because of cultural reasons than political ones. The entire education system in China is in fact pretty stifling.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

When did we cut our science funding?

http://arstechnica.com/journal...osting-science-funding

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Does anyone else feel concerned that China declared they want to kick our ass in scientific research just as we significantly slashed science budgets across the board?

I am certainly concerned with it and especially since Florida just lowered the standards for a A from 90% down to 80% in order for more minority students to gain acceptance in to a collage. If chu axe me dat was a grrreeat d-cision.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

I don't think that's as much a hindrance as you say. China may limit political freedoms, but it actually heavily encourages scientific development almost to the point of indoctrination, from my personal experience. The two are rarely in conflict.

Not true. China has a seriously hindered scientific community. It stifles new ideas from young minds. Senior scientists have the final say, always. Regardless if the science is valid or not.

Hmm.. I don't doubt that, though I think that's more because of cultural reasons than political ones. The entire education system in China is in fact pretty stifling.

Oh, yes, of course its cultural. Sorry maybe i guess i didnt make that clear. Also, I was only objecting to the generalities of your post.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of small but vocal groups in some states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of small but vocal groups in some states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

Fixed that for you.

The majority of Americans are actually creationists, and a large percentage of them believe it should be taught in school.

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

You got a picture of the missing link fella. If not theory is just that theory,

Missing link of what???

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

You got a picture of the missing link fella. If not theory is just that theory,

err, theory is not just a theory in scientific terms. in general use terms perhaps.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
The majority of Americans are actually creationists, and a large percentage of them believe it should be taught in school.

Not really true. A large majority of Americans believe in a god. However, a majority does not believe that god created humans as they are today, which would be creationism. In fact, the majority believe in evolution but a majority of those believe a god helped or guided that process along.

Baby steps.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

Then explain how Russia got the bomb. By your logic, any oppressive nation without freedom of speech/thought is unable to make technological achievements.

Germany lacked freedom of speech/though during World War 2, yet they had some technologies that were years ahead of anyone else (better planes, better rockets, etc.)

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Does anyone else feel concerned that China declared they want to kick our ass in scientific research just as we significantly slashed science budgets across the board?

Where is your faith?

My faith rests on common sense. If you don't pay our scientists, then they're not going to be our scientists for long. Science isn't free.

I'll have faith in our scientific institutions when they get their money back (hopefully next year)

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
When did we cut our science funding?

http://arstechnica.com/journal...osting-science-funding

The 2008 budget had an ENORMOUS cut across the board to science spending. It was a purely political move.

Fermilab faces a $52 million dollar cut in 2008's budget
http://www.chicagotribune.com/...hdec22,1,4053136.story

We've also withdrawn all support from ITER and have cut most of our support for the LHC.

Bush's recently proposed budget for 2009 is supposed to alleviate these cuts, you can find those articles all over the news (BBC, CNN, etc.)

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

You got a picture of the missing link fella. If not theory is just that theory,

Gravity is just a theory, too. So are all of the theories that were used to build your computer, your car, most of your kitchen, and any modern medical tools that you've seen. Should we stop teaching physics in school since it's all just theories?

Evolution may be a theory, but it is still science. Since it is a science, it should be taught in science classrooms. End of discussion.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1

Originally posted by: Pocatello

Originally posted by: Mahaguru
Not at all. Research and technology requires freedoms such as freedom of speech and thought, none of which exist in China. They can spend all the money they want, but it will only be used to suppress research and technology.

We have a lot of states which want to suppress the teaching of evolution in public schools.

You got a picture of the missing link fella. If not theory is just that theory,

In science,
A law explains what happens under a certain condition
A theory explains why things in general happen and are usually wider reaching

Theory and fact are not mutually exclusive.

That's it, a picture of the missing link would still make it a theory, not a law.

Gravity is a theory
9.8m/s acceleration due to earth's gravity is a law
General relativity is a theory
Cells are the base building blocks of living creatures is a theory
Nature being composed of atoms is "just a theory"
Plate tectonics is theory
Probability is a theory
Perspective is a theory
So is visual perception otherwise known as eyesight

Lots of people throw around the word theory trying to make it congruent to thesis, but a theory is more than that a theory is an logical explanation or testable model that explains natural phenomena, capable of being tested through exprimentation or empirical observation