Obama and Science

[Roller]

Looks like Obama is shaping up to be the most science-friendly president you guys have had in a long while: Obama goes 'all in' for science. Guess it makes a bit of a difference from Bush's 'what is this science stuff anyway' approach. But there's a good point in the article - with $70 billion up for grabs, do you think that the money is going to be spent effectively? What do you think most money should be directed towards?

[Techno]

This is awesome. I'm curious as to what sciences they will be funding more. I hope it's nuclear fusion. Does he pronounce nuclear correctly, unlike every other goddamn politician?

[Invader]

Guess it makes a bit of a difference from Bush's 'what is this science stuff anyway' approach. I hope he aims for antigravity research.

[Don Juan]

Obama is a fool for fools to follow. We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Then there was a steady decline until close to the election. Then when it appeared he was going to win the bottom dropped out. (and continues to decline) You folks that want a handout are the same useful fools that Hitler spoke of. I think that he wants to spend the money on political science ie indoctrination. Some of you are ready and willing to live in an Orwellian nightmare. Get used to doing this...

[Robot_Butler]

I hope we sink all the money into thawing Tesla's frozen brain and then commissioning the Shredder to build it a chubby robot body that looks like a pro-wrestler.

[Invader]

We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Not that I claim to be a member of any political party, but... I laughed at this so hard that I almost shat myself.

[Xei]

We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Fantastic work.

[Don Juan]

Not that I claim to be a member of any political party, but... I laughed at this so hard that I almost shat myself. That would be because your screen name is invader not investor. Maybe Obama will appoint an economic science czar! He obviously like yourself does not have a clue about economics. The people that lost 50% of their income since about last September/October from their investments would disagree with you. Please do try and keep up. And if you choose not to be involved in politics then you deserve every bit of history you will receive. Invader...parasitic organisms make the same claim. The irony is not to be missed on that fact.

[ECL]

Why not just put it all into space exploration? Easy answer! I got mad when they delayed the europa mission.

[Roller]

We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Then there was a steady decline until close to the election. Then when it appeared he was going to win the bottom dropped out. (and continues to decline) Gold. Quite an interesting take on causality there. I'm not sure if it's humorous or disturbing. Probably both. Anyway, I think the article said that most of the money was being directed towards renewable/clean energy, which in encouraging. I think the last few years has seen a remarkable paradigm shift (in the general community) that any pursuit of energy technology needs to be environmentally responsible. It's good to know that eventually sound science seeps through into the general population, although the process could be faster. I think a lot of progress is being made with fusion - there should be a first-generation working experimental reactor built by 2012 I think I read somewhere, meaning that the first commercial reactors will probably be running about 2030. Unless there's a major war before then. Personally I would like to see a LOT of funding put into science education at its most basic level. Yes, there are a lot of promising projects and developmental areas, but the most surefire way to boost science output is to boost the number of skilled science students in the workforce. Also, education in schools needs to be much improved.

[Invader]

That would be because your screen name is invader not investor. And your name is Don Juan. Do you think a screen name on the internet declares how much any given person knows about a subject, or should I just assume that you're legitimately retarded? The people that lost 50% of their income since about last September/October from their investments would disagree with you. Please quote your sources. Do you have sources, or are you pulling this out of your ass? Invader...parasitic organisms make the same claim. The irony is not to be missed on that fact. What I pray isn't missed is that this is clearly harassment. My original response to you was made in lieu of the fact that you made a very, very bold claim without any source to back you up. Citing sources for such things will get you far. Attacking the members of the community directly like this will not.

[Xaqaria]

Obama is a fool for fools to follow. We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Then there was a steady decline until close to the election. Then when it appeared he was going to win the bottom dropped out. (and continues to decline) You folks that want a handout are the same useful fools that Hitler spoke of. I think that he wants to spend the money on political science ie indoctrination. Some of you are ready and willing to live in an Orwellian nightmare. Get used to doing this... Where have you been for the last 11 years? Anyone who has followed the economy (or just looks at a graph of the dow jones) knows that we had been in a recession for 2 years prior to sept. 11 2001. The economy then crashed hard and stayed that way for 2 more years until We went to war in Iraq and afghanistan. The war production along with the housing bubble propped up the economy and created misleading growth that lead to a massive over-valuation. Over-valuation is not a robust economy, it is a short term run up to a dead man's drop, which we have seen over the last year and a half.

[Roller]

What I pray isn't missed is that this is clearly harassment. My original response to you was made in lieu of the fact that you made a very, very bold claim without any source to back you up. Citing sources for such things will get you far. Attacking the members of the community directly like this will not. Best to ignore this sort of thing. It's obvious no serious economic argument is going to be presented.

[Photolysis]

I'd suggest that stem cell research in varying forms and research into plasma physics and new materials required for a fusion reactor would be a good start. Though improvements to solar power and other renewable sources would also be welcome as well. Then there's the US' space programs. I'd also invest some money into carbon nanotube research and superconductors in general. Finally, increasing the quality of science education over there would be good. Those seem like the best starting points to me anyway.

[DeathCell]

Obama is a fool for fools to follow. We had a robust economy until the Democrats gained control of congress. Then there was a steady decline until close to the election. Then when it appeared he was going to win the bottom dropped out. (and continues to decline) You folks that want a handout are the same useful fools that Hitler spoke of. I think that he wants to spend the money on political science ie indoctrination. Some of you are ready and willing to live in an Orwellian nightmare. Get used to doing this... Sure. Forgot that Bush and his Republican cronies were in charge of everything until.... The collapse started on his shift.

[Robot_Butler]

Best to ignore this sort of thing. It's obvious no serious economic argument is going to be presented. Exactly what I was doing too . If I had Don Juan's address, I would send him a high school intro textbook to macroeconomics Short of that, I'll just look the other way. Obviously people interested in economics are not big TMNT fans...

[Jeff777]

I posted a rather crude post for Don Juan in here last night regarding his blatant ignorance regarding the economy - but thought it over and deleted it. It wasn't becoming of me. However I will say this...Don Juan, lower the assholery levels. You know a lot less than you think you know. And I am an investor.

[Don Juan]

Where have you been for the last 11 years? Anyone who has followed the economy (or just looks at a graph of the dow jones) knows that we had been in a recession for 2 years prior to sept. 11 2001. The economy then crashed hard and stayed that way for 2 more years until We went to war in Iraq and afghanistan. The war production along with the housing bubble propped up the economy and created misleading growth that lead to a massive over-valuation. Over-valuation is not a robust economy, it is a short term run up to a dead man's drop, which we have seen over the last year and a half. Since you are the only one to even begin to offer anything to debate other than "dude I'm an invester yo" or "you don't know what yer talkin about" I'll begin with you first. Dead man's drop in the last year and a half? Wrong again, that would have been only about 6 months ago in September. You need to take a good look at that chart again. Where have you been for the last 92 years? Socialism does not work, does not build private wealth, and eventually fails! Take a good look at that graph you posted. Yes the Republican president inherited an established recessionary downturn, and due to the derelict Democratic President before him being too busy having his unit tended by a pimply fat intern our country suffered an attack that was worse than Pearl Harbor. Would you expect the already troubled economy at the time to get better immediately? Name what year from that graph where the Dow was at 14,164.53. Answer October of 07. Under Bush's stewardship. Wasn't Clinton and won't be Obama. We did not choose to go to war lightly. War production fueling the economy? Hardly! As a matter of fact due to Rumsfelds policy of wanting to fight as lean as possible there was alot of equipment that was bought by the GI's family and sent to them, as the military was not spending on production. Show me where the United States re-tooled their industry for War production in any substantial way! Things that you would expect the military to provide such as body armor many times their own families had to pay for and provide! I'm not a big fan of Bush, but we went from skillet to the fire with Obama. He voted to cut funding for our troops in harms way! The Democrats voted for the war resolution at the time if you remember and these decisions were based on the same intelligence that was given the President. Then wanting to distance themselves from the war the mantra "Bush lied and people died" started being heard. Liberals are liars. Why, because morality is absent with most of them. The housing bubble? Ha! Fannie Mae was part of FDR's New Deal in 1938. Then during the 90's your beloved Bill Clinton forced them to give loans to people that could not afford them. Housing for all! Much like "Healthcare for All" and the mortgage bailouts and massive spending we see today! The Republicans tried to warn Congress that Fannie and Freddie were going to fail and cause an economic crisis back in 2004 but "I need a boy" Barnie Frank and crew lied to congress and the American people all while singing these overbloated mortgage companies praises. Obama is creating the next bubble market scheme right in front of our eyes. Learn from history! The stimulus garbage that is being ram rodded down America's throat. Have you ever visited a Veteran's hospital? You need to if you haven't so that you will see what socialized medical care is. This class envy entitlement generation that I see right here on this board amazes me with it's pure ignorance and sheer gullibility. And Jeff777 comics and trading cards are not investments (neither are hollow mantras spouted from an empty suit such as "Hope and Change"). But I'm all ears if you have some hot stock picks or options advice for me! How much did you make today since the market dropped another 281 points. The stock market has dropped about 3000 points since Obama walked into office. So any advice that you might have with your being all of 21 years old and so knowledgable I would welcome...seeing how much investing experience you must surely have! I should invest in acne cream as I'm sure with this bunch you kids are probably having a rampant outbreak from the truth. And while Obama is having Earth, Wind, and Fire (google them if you must) play at his parties while dining on $100 per pound steak as the country's economy collapses under his tenure you people simply say "Hope...Change" like a bunch of mindless zombies. You bunch should forget about lucid dreaming and work on lucid reality for a "change". Well you got it. And here is some economic news for you. Your generation will be paying for this for a very, very long time. And Invader, I'm harrasing you? You are a Ninja Pirate remember... can't you take it? Cry me a river. Oh and the halloween costume that your mommy let you wear last year looks pretty gay in your public profile. Class dismissed. Sorry for any acne outbreak I may have caused you. You baby Bolsheviks can go play now.

[Jeff777]

And Jeff777 comics and trading cards are not investments (neither are hollow mantras spouted from an empty suit such as "Hope and Change"). But I'm all ears if you have some hot stock picks or options advice for me! How much did you make today since the market dropped another 281 points. The stock market has dropped about 3000 points since Obama walked into office. So any advice that you might have with your being being 21 years old and so knowledgable I would welcome...seeing how much investing experience you must surely have! Your narcissistic condescending spouts are hardly amusing. All ass, no wit. But since we're being condescending here and we're treating age like some sort of badge of knowledge...I'm going to go ahead and refer to you as Grandpa. You old megalomaniac's need to keep better tabs on where you last laid your prune juice, maybe then the assholery levels would be non-existent. Now then, shall we commence this? You are a dumbass if you are investing in paper assets right now. *ahem* let me repeat that. You are a DUMB ASS if you are investing in paper assets right now. You'd actually be better off investing in comics and trading cards (no, not the companies that produce them). I'm a property investor. In laymen terms...I buy foreclosed, mismanaged, or undervalued properties and find ways to increase my profit by either decreasing my expense or adding value to the property itself through sleep suppressing renovations. Currently 5 properties are in my portfolio and through 4 years of strenuous years of credit building, the banks manager's I've worked with have financed about 95% of my investments. Amortization pays off my currently withstanding debt and I pocket the profit. While I have seen a small decrease in my monthly profits...I must say I'm still smiling every month. The foreclosure crisis is entirely overblown and the market is already starting to (in small increments) improve. Don't confuse property investor with property broker. While licensing is not necessary for the first, I assure you...I am licensed in the latter. Oh and property management and home appraisals. The neatest little guide to stock market investing is an interesting book. Upon the last page I couldn't understand why people would choose to invest in such risky assets. 1. For one thing...a paper asset is just that...paper. Banks won't finance you on buying stocks, but they sure as hell will on land and buildings. 2. You have ZERO control in the direction of the company. Unless you own the majority of the shares, your weight is quite minimal within the interest and direction of the company you have chosen to pay good money to be a part of. Bottom line? While real estate is quite risky, paper assets are even riskier. At the end of the day when all is said and done...stock investing is just playing the lotto (especially if you don't know how to properly read a companies figures, which although I don't play the stock market...I do know how to properly read a companies figures I sold my 5 round lots within the stock market and invested it in a kiosk at my local mall (which I'm renting out for about 500 bucks a month.) Yes the nation seems to be in panic mode, but what are you doing about it? You can sit on your fat ass and cry about how bad things have gotten or use your god given creativity and ingenuity to profit in a declining economy. Oh and by the way...I'm damn proud to be 21. Don't be so quick to judge. Your move Gramps.

[Invader]

And Invader, I'm harrasing you? You are a Ninja Pirate remember... can't you take it? Cry me a river. Oh and the halloween costume that your mommy let you wear last year looks pretty gay in your public profile. Uncalled for.

[ClouD]

Don Juan is temporarily banned, please keep on-topic if continuing discussion in this thread.

[Black_Eagle]

Don Juan is temporarily banned, please keep on-topic if continuing discussion in this thread. He's just going to come back and do it again...

[Roller]

He's just going to come back and do it again... Not if we ignore him and refuse to take the bait. Anyway. Back to the topic.

[Sisyphus50]

Stem cells and renewable energy would be the big two, but something that most overlook is that NASA really needs its public image lifted. Kids today need to be as excited about Mars as kids in 1963 were about the Moon. During the 70's you couldn't find an American that wasn't proud of the space program. Not a single pilot lost in a flight (I'm not including Apollo 1 because it wasn't off the ground), all astronauts were bona fide 'American heroes'. That sense of wonder and amazement catalysed the dreams of a lot of kids that grew up to love science. With two catastrophic shuttle explosions in the past, a space station that has run over budget by hundreds of billions of dollars, and a shuttle fleet that should have been retired 5 years ago, NASA needs a public relations facelift. The Spirit and Opportunity missions didn't get the coverage they deserved, neither did Pheonix. I'd like to see a change to that to get my generation and the next excited about space again.

[Xei]

What's the point in going to Mars? Seriously, we need to be focusing on what matters to us at the moment. That means the energy sector, flat out. Otherwise the world is going to be in serious trouble. The amount spent on text messages in the UK exceeded the amount we spent on fusion research last year. How fucking stupid is that?