[GeronL]

Are you aware that the Smithsonian was bankrolling some big time honcho who was crashing aeroplanes into the Potomac at the same time that the Wright brothers were developing their airplane? This "socialism" as you call it has been going on since the birth of the Republic

Thats supposed to be an argument in favor of government funded research?

[NathanR]

That was an answer as to what the Smithsonian had to do with anything.

I may have libertarian tendencies, but government has a place and things like police and fire are some of them. Philosophers have always had patrons, and in this country that would be the government.