Why is it libertarians are so willing to use technology developed up to this point and forego the rest? Honestly, what would an island (or Rand's hidden valley) full of libertarians consist of, if they had to start from scratch?
You Libertarian haters conveniently ignore the fact that the most expensive and the lowest quality way to get anything done is to do it through government. If the untold billions of dollars wasted by the government fed hogs at the scientific research trough had been available to private industry we'd have a whole lot more to show for it.*
Or are you one of these people who believe that without the NEA there is no art and without NIH, NASA, etc. there is no science.
Read Bastiat
*Look at the difference in government schools and private schools, the post office and UPS etc.
I'm pretty sure (just a guess, mind you, but an educated one) that the first spear point was developed without a government grant, and was actually the product of private industry.
It was a case of using private technological innovation to bring supply to a pent-up market.
Ranch dressing for starters.