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To clarify
October 28, 2008 by Fred Bortz, 1 year 1 week ago
Comment id: 32571
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I'm not a Republican. I am a Democrat, but not an ideologue.
Politics goes wrong without a credible opposition, so although I'd like to see the Democrats in power for a while, I lament the fact that GWBush has damaged the Republican party.
So while I disagree with the characterization of the Democrats as big spenders (consider the late 1990s surpluses), I share our Republican commenter's lament that GWBush apparently bought into the doctrine that deficits don't matter.
The recent deficits have harmed our government's ability to step in where it has legitimate purpose. The support of basic science is one place where the government has incentive to do what corporations cannot justify.
I like the term "the commons" to describe where government funds support, and regulations sustain, what is needed for the common good and provide for a better future. Basic science is part of the commons, as I see it.
Fred Bortz -- Science and technology books for young readers (www.fredbortz.com) and Science book reviews (www.scienceshelf.com)