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Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by jorgeortiz85 on Thursday January 01, 2009 @06:59PM (#416803)
Scientific knowledge is a public good. That's exactly the kind of thing government should be subsidizing.
Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by fallentimes on Thursday January 01, 2009 @07:52PM (#416844)
That's a strawman argument. Not all the subsidized positions have to do with science anyways.
Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by netcan on Thursday January 01, 2009 @11:21PM (#417027)
Not sure it's a straw man argument, but your right. Many academic areas produce mostly papers & graduates. The Graduates pay to be produced.
Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by fallentimes on Friday January 02, 2009 @07:49AM (#417290)
I think it is. No one said anything for or against scientific knowledge then all of a sudden WHOOSH.
Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by netcan on Friday January 02, 2009 @07:12PM (#417921)
i don't think going WHOOSH as he hit send qualifies it argument as a straw man. Irrelevant at worst. Tangent at best.

What if he had just decided to call you an old bag. Would that be a strawman? It's not implying that you presented not being a bag as an argument.

Re:Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? by fallentimes on Friday January 02, 2009 @07:14PM (#417924)
Haha, that'd just be hilarious.