[derbOac]

> Second, because government funded science is free from having to produce immediate results in order to satisfy the whims of a specific patron such that funding is continued.

I agree with you but there's irony (and a possible lesson about motives) in the current situation.

[rjbwork]

Well, hundreds of elected representatives and a handful of judges have had to entirely abdicate their responsibility and power for us to arrive at this point. It's not just one guy.

[derbOac]

Sadly true and the real mystery for me.

The problem and paradox is that it's hundreds of elected representatives and a handful of judges entirely abdicating their responsibility to make it just one guy.

[AdieuToLogic]

>> Second, because government funded science is free from having to produce immediate results in order to satisfy the whims of a specific patron such that funding is continued.

> I agree with you but there's irony (and a possible lesson about motives) in the current situation.

Quite true, sadly.

I am reminded of an old adage[0]:

  In theory there is no difference between theory and
  practice, while in practice there is.

0 - https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/04/14/theory/