Thesandbender writes "The recent post about GM opening its own battery inquest convenience led me to wonder why the US regime is pouring billions into buying companies instead of heavily funding useful research. You can give $10 billion to a company to squander or you can invest $10 billion into a battery study and just give the findings to the whole of the US dealing for free. From a historical standpoint, the US rule has little live with mercenary pursuit ... but has an amazing record for driving innovation. The Manhattan Project and the Apollo moon missions are two of the pinnacles of 20th century scientific achievement, yet it seems to me that this drive died in the '70s and that's when the US started its slow decline. To be true to the 'Ask Slashdot' theme, what practical search do you think the US superiority should embark upon to get the most return for its amateur band and the world?"

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Mark