If you claiming that Hamilton's bank forwarded the national defense, then you have to at least admit that the space program provides needed defense technology as well. Heck even Madison disagreed with establishing a bank yet it still was allowed. I was saying I was in favor of space research, even before I was born, for the defense implications. Obviously the national banking system was needed for economic reasons and covered by 'general welfare.
Among the multitude benefits of having a space program, we get important items such as communication and spy satellites, without which our military probably couldn't function. The defense implications are obvious.
Again I disagree, any of those areas can contribute to the national defense, it's all a matter of perspective. Besides, the precendence has exists at the Federal level for about 200 years. Yep, we disagree on medical. I don't think that it's necessary. In actuality, could be argued that prolonging life on the elderly is not in national interest. On the other hand, for a myriad of other reasons, the private might choose otherwise.
Well, defense contributions that a sound knowledge of diseases brings to defending against biological warefare, I disagree. Medical research at private corporations is undoubtebly essential, but supplimented with government equipment and grants always these corporations to kickstart their efforts while ensuring longer, happier lives for citizens while providing jobs for hundreds of thousands. Show me where ESD will aid the war on terror.
Harvard has a lot of money, no doubt. But their endowment pales in comparison to the amount the government brings to the table. Harvard has a total endowment, most of which is tied to certain funds, projects, scholarships or buildings and is therefore unavailable to doctors at the medical school, of about $30 billion. In contrast, the Federal government annual supplies some $15 billion annually to various institutions. Harvard has a lot, but her pockets aren't that deep.
