[risk]

With big-ticket items like defense research, space exploration, particle accelerators and atomic physics, oceanic exploration/development, and so forth, I think there is a legitimate role for "big" government to play. It can leverage the nation's need for strategic progress on a large scale with funding and focus. The spinoffs should be encouraged to flourish however. Business can thrive on top of "big" (little 'b') government.

[RightWingAtheist]

Exactly.

[The Incredible One]

yes, a free market does help the funding of developments in science and research. ethnicity has little to do with is. if a society places emphasis on science and mathematics and is backed up by state/private funding it can come up with path breaking research.

the old soviet union was an example of state funding. in our country it was a healthy mix of state/private funding that contributed to research. increasingly china and india will give us a run for our money.

(PS: about creationism versus evolution - the debate is importatnt. read James Michener's Space to understand more. )