Eliminate the Doling Out Of Taxpayer Funds by Federal Agencies to "Researchers"

Open e-mail to Rep. Neugebauer:

Randy,

The August 15th issue of C&E News has an article entitled, "Revisiting Grant Reviews". According to the article, the House Science Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education last month reviewed the grant process. The grant process is a procedure whereby various agencies of the federal government dole out money to various private investigators, usually at universities, to fund projects, which the government agencies judge are significant.

I have said many times that the judgment of these agencies is very questionable. Such projects is why a butterfly beats its wings and how far a frog can jump, are not worthwhile projects for spending taxpayer money.

I have also said many times that the whole grant process involving taxpayer funds should be scuttled. We are now in tremendous debt, looking for various ways to reduce expenses, and this is one obvious way.

I am not opposed to science research. I am opposed to impractical science research. Projects such as how to better protect citizens from car bombs and other explosive devices or how to improve food production. are worthwhile endeavors. However, it does not take government to be involved in these things. We have private industries and industry groups whose job it is to do this. The function of government in this area is only to maintain a level playing field, such that none of these companies or organizations are tempted to collaborate to the disadvantage of the American public. Even as I say that, I am not particularly concerned, when I make a comparison of the damage already done by federal regulatory agencies and the squandering of money on taxpayer supported grants.

Randy, I say again, get rid of government grants. I notice that the subcommittee is asking for suggestions on how to make the merit review process of grant issuance more efficient. This disturbs me, because it implies that the subcommittee wants to maintain this economy destroying mechanism. Is it because the subcommittee members feel that they need to justify their jobs? I hope not. Given the opportunity to just draw their salaries and do nothing, versus drawing salaries and doing damage, I much prefer the former.