Jesus no, not Government funding, not for science, no no not in energy...

[Moonbeam]

The fucking government is at it again:

http://www.technologyreview.com/new...rnment-backed-energy-projects-that-stand-out/

They stand out all right, like my middle finger when the other three are pulled down.

 

[Greenman]

None of those seem to be exceptionally stupid, what am I missing?

 

[theevilsharpie]

None of those seem to be exceptionally stupid, what am I missing?

I think this was an attempt at sarcasm that got muddled by Moonbeam's moonbeamery.

 

[rayfieldclement]

All of that article makes sense. A $400 mil loan to Tesla makes no sense.(from another thread on P&N)

 

[Greenman]

I think this was an attempt at sarcasm that got muddled by Moonbeam's moonbeamery.

Thank you.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Looks like engineers with the right discipline could be required to support these projects.

 

[OverVolt]

I know right, with so much government capital in the market it is crowding out real capital. Who knows what the hell we need as of 2012 to be competitive in the market.

If rare earth elements really are that rare and there will never be enough for everyone to use the technology, then why are we double down/triple down/quadruple down on even more research into rare earths. How many real resources will have been wasted if it doesn't work?

 

[Moonbeam]

I know right, with so much government capital in the market it is crowding out real capital. Who knows what the hell we need as of 2012 to be competitive in the market.

If rare earth elements really are that rare and there will never be enough for everyone to use the technology, then why are we double down/triple down/quadruple down on even more research into rare earths. How many real resources will have been wasted if it doesn't work?

sO TRUE, PISSING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

As much as I am all for our Government supporting science and new discoveries - there is a little problem.... And that problem is ANYTHING, remotely close/similar to government contracting. Just ask any unionized piece of shit scumbag. Road construction? Yeah, you ever wonder why it takes a decade? Government contracting.

The question is if government contracting is what this will boil down to.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

I know right, with so much government capital in the market it is crowding out real capital. Who knows what the hell we need as of 2012 to be competitive in the market.

If rare earth elements really are that rare and there will never be enough for everyone to use the technology, then why are we double down/triple down/quadruple down on even more research into rare earths. How many real resources will have been wasted if it doesn't work?

Rare earth metals are not "Rare". The issue is that the US government has made competing with China in mining these not so rare metals not worth the hassle due to Federal regulations involved which add to the cost of doing businesses on the world market and in addition to China's own dumping of a crap load of supply into the marketplace thus driving prices downward to eliminate all competition.

In addition the OP tries to make the case that this is good for the economy and thus good for the nation but you have to ask how many other areas of research are not being funded with government dollars due to political reasons rather then economic reasons.

For example how about nuclear?

The OP tries to muddle the waters in any attempt the question why one should or should not question government involvement in the research of these activities versus having the private sector bring fourth solutions that are economically feasible and not being funded at tax payer expense or privy to being undermined due to political pressure.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

This is almost powerball money

Seriously, we should be spending a thousand times this.

 

[Howard]

Increasing energy supply and improving energy independence should be near the top of anyone's list. Reducing the cost of energy isn't going to reflect just on your monthly bill (not sure if Moonbeam is on the grid though).

 

[Greenman]

This is almost powerball money

Seriously, we should be spending a thousand times this.

We will have before we see any results.

 

[Howard]

We will have before we see any results.

Boehner-tears don't help the nation.

 

[OverVolt]

When the government starts monetizing the debt, they basically have a blank check to do as they please.

Japan passed 1 Quadrillion Yen in debt recently. And they decide to research this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...elop-humanoid-to-keep-astronauts-company.html

 

[Moonbeam]

When the government starts monetizing the debt, they basically have a blank check to do as they please.

Japan passed 1 Quadrillion Yen in debt recently. And they decide to research this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...elop-humanoid-to-keep-astronauts-company.html

Japan has a higher average IQ than America. Experience with stupidity tells us that we will see them as stupid.

 

[OverVolt]

Japan has a higher average IQ than America. Experience with stupidity tells us that we will see them as stupid.

Pretty easy when your demographics look like this:

Which is REAL easy to do when no one can afford to have kids, only the educated. And even then, later in life when they can't have many kids.

Thats where we are headed if we keep monetizing the debt. Ya dig. A population with a high IQ is actually nothing to be proud of. It means high selective pressure in education, AKA no one can afford kids.

 

[Jhhnn]

I know right, with so much government capital in the market it is crowding out real capital. Who knows what the hell we need as of 2012 to be competitive in the market.

If rare earth elements really are that rare and there will never be enough for everyone to use the technology, then why are we double down/triple down/quadruple down on even more research into rare earths. How many real resources will have been wasted if it doesn't work?

How does a gnat crowd out an elephant? The private sector could easily commit enormously more capital than what govt has to such projects, but they don't. They leave it for the govt to do. The elephant moves over for the gnat.

 

[Jhhnn]

Pretty easy when your demographics look like this:

Which is REAL easy to do when no one can afford to have kids, only the educated. And even then, later in life when they can't have many kids.

Thats where we are headed if we keep monetizing the debt. Ya dig. A population with a high IQ is actually nothing to be proud of. It means high selective pressure in education, AKA no one can afford kids.

Wrongful association on your part. That's where we're headed if we continue to allow concentration of income. Billionaires could have hundreds of kids, maybe thousands, but they don't, because they can't.

 

[Moonbeam]

Pretty easy when your demographics look like this:

Which is REAL easy to do when no one can afford to have kids, only the educated. And even then, later in life when they can't have many kids.

Thats where we are headed if we keep monetizing the debt. Ya dig. A population with a high IQ is actually nothing to be proud of. It means high selective pressure in education, AKA no one can afford kids.

I found your posts here so canned and stereotyped that I didn't want to tell you a primary reason so much research goes into humanizing robots in Japan is due to an intention to use them in elder care. There is nothing like having your own personal terminator. I have had one since age 7.

 

[werepossum]

Pretty easy when your demographics look like this:

Which is REAL easy to do when no one can afford to have kids, only the educated. And even then, later in life when they can't have many kids.

Thats where we are headed if we keep monetizing the debt. Ya dig. A population with a high IQ is actually nothing to be proud of. It means high selective pressure in education, AKA no one can afford kids.

Nah, our system is different; we pay people to have kids, and we've abolished shame, so we'll have lots and lots of kids in low income, federally subsidized homes. Same end result though, since comparatively few of our kids will have jobs and pay more into the system than they take out.