Re: [tlug] [OT] Specialized insects and Linux

[Raedwolf Sumner <rarooam@example.com>]

"Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com> writes

> And then there's current government policy, as in (DJ) Abe-no-mix and
> Monkeyshow[3], which are now deprecating "liberal arts education" as
> quickly as they can. Eg, reducing both available research budgets for
> "bunkei" subjects including economics and business[4], and enforcing
> competition for them by coalescing field definitions.

According to this WSJ article by Matt Ridley, the “Monkeyshow” has it exactly

bassackwards. Ridley makes the point that the important contribution to growth

comes from the diffusion of new technology -- not from its existence (i.e., basic

research). Rothbard claimed that basic research was far less important to

economic growth, simply because practical diffusion was paramount.[*]

www dot wsj dot com/articles/the-myth-of-basic-science-1445613954

Of course, the Monbu are much more concerned with lofty achievements such as

prestigious awards than with mundane matters such as economic benefits to the

populace. Unfortunately, they, too, are victims of the educational paradigm.

[*] But then Rothbard would have put a stop to this whole central planning

parasite class anyway.