Potato chips: A symptom of the U.S. R&D problem

[XemaSab]

Last year, U.S. consumers spent $7.1 billion on potato chips — $2 billion more than the federal government’s total 2009 investment on energy research and development. There’s something wrong, here, when Americans are more willing to empty their wallets for the junk food that will swell their waistlines than for investments in the engine driving the creation of jobs, economic growth and national security.

The potato chip illustration is but one disturbing factoid contained in a September 23 report issued by the National Academies: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited.” Here are some other trend indicators it identified:

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/63647/title/Potato_chips_A_symptom_of_the_U.S._R%2BD_problem

[customerserviceguy]

1. We probably spend more than that on pet food

But what's that got to do with anything, either? Comparing the amount spent on a consumer good, where the people parting with the money know what they're getting, with the sums speculated on what could be pie-in-the-sky research is nonsense.

[Pholus]

3. I loves me that "Need a Guaranteed Return" spirit of corporate America.

Thank the MAKER the world didn't think that way between 1887 and 1905 because I can't imagine any old-boy network CEO thinking that metals which emit a small number of electrons when struck by light would have any possible application.

Of course now we have digital cameras and solar panels from that 100 year old "pie in the sky" research line.

How about compared to 4.4 billion for the operational costs of Congress?

[customerserviceguy]

4. Yes, R & D sometimes gives benefits

And sometimes it doesn't. My point is that comparing an R & D budget to the amount a nation spends on potato chips (or any other consumer good) is meaningless.

Or would a statistic showing that we spent more on R & D than we do on duct tape make your day just a little bit brighter?

[Pholus]

5. Could you please?

It would be nice to have a bright day.... :)

I understand your point but the use of "pie in the sky" for research versus a "guaranteed return" of greasy salty goodness kind of sounded like a value judgement which seemed to deserve some kind of retort.

Of course, greasy salty goodness has its place too but....

Mmmmmmmmmm.... pie.........

Okay, it's late now.

[druidity33]

2. interesting stuff... K&R... nt.