The other day, I was talking to an
individual who had a brilliant concept and innovation for a new medical
device. It was something that could change the lives of millions of
Americans, and increase the efficiency of therapeutic care. When I began
to discuss this with him, I noted that the military had done quite a
bit of research into same arena, and that some of that science was
probably available as transfer technology.
However, when I mentioned this to him, he told me he didn't want anything to do with the military. He didn't want anything that he was doing to be used for war fighting equipment designed to hurt or even killed people. My immediate thought was; "why you ungrateful," you know what. But then I got to thinking about it, and that is his prerogative, it is his opinion, and we live in a free society which allows him to have that. I don't condone his thinking on this as we must protect our nation, but I understand where it comes from, and I defend his right to express that opinion.
Still, I believe that military research, especially pure research should be increased by 10-fold. Now I suppose many liberals won't like this concept, but I would submit to them that if they are reading this article online that is on the Internet, that they should consider the advanced research of the US military as it was responsible for creating the Internet the first place, because it wasn't Al Gore as per popular belief. Look what the Internet has done for this country, for communication, and for our technologically advanced society.
Further, in the future we don't know who our enemies will be, some might be state sponsored proxy terrorists, some might be countries with large militaries, or who knows we could get into a Cold War with China, Russia, or some other up-and-coming nation. We need to stay ahead of the curve, and as we do eventually those technologies transfer into the public sector.
Not long ago, a military analyst of research contracts noted that the "research agenda had not kept pace with shifts which are so great as to change the nature of how war can be conducted," to which I myself totally agree, Okay so let's address this.
You see, the military analyst has basically the same line of thinking here. And just as that famous quote; "the terrorists only have to be right one time, we have to be right all the time," if we are to prevent a terrorist attack. I think that was Donald Rumsfeld who said that, and he is correct. If we advance pure research for potential military purposes, what we learn today will be integrated into our technology in the future both in the public and private sector. This type of innovation research money is well spent. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
However, when I mentioned this to him, he told me he didn't want anything to do with the military. He didn't want anything that he was doing to be used for war fighting equipment designed to hurt or even killed people. My immediate thought was; "why you ungrateful," you know what. But then I got to thinking about it, and that is his prerogative, it is his opinion, and we live in a free society which allows him to have that. I don't condone his thinking on this as we must protect our nation, but I understand where it comes from, and I defend his right to express that opinion.
Still, I believe that military research, especially pure research should be increased by 10-fold. Now I suppose many liberals won't like this concept, but I would submit to them that if they are reading this article online that is on the Internet, that they should consider the advanced research of the US military as it was responsible for creating the Internet the first place, because it wasn't Al Gore as per popular belief. Look what the Internet has done for this country, for communication, and for our technologically advanced society.
Further, in the future we don't know who our enemies will be, some might be state sponsored proxy terrorists, some might be countries with large militaries, or who knows we could get into a Cold War with China, Russia, or some other up-and-coming nation. We need to stay ahead of the curve, and as we do eventually those technologies transfer into the public sector.
Not long ago, a military analyst of research contracts noted that the "research agenda had not kept pace with shifts which are so great as to change the nature of how war can be conducted," to which I myself totally agree, Okay so let's address this.
You see, the military analyst has basically the same line of thinking here. And just as that famous quote; "the terrorists only have to be right one time, we have to be right all the time," if we are to prevent a terrorist attack. I think that was Donald Rumsfeld who said that, and he is correct. If we advance pure research for potential military purposes, what we learn today will be integrated into our technology in the future both in the public and private sector. This type of innovation research money is well spent. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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