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Life-changing government inventions

Federally funded research is behind many of the innovations that affect our lives each day. Here's a look at 10 of the most significant.

By Blaire Briody, The Fiscal Times

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James Hoffpauir
Mar 20, 2013 7:28PM
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"Federally funded research"  is really taxpayer funded reasearch.  The government only has money because it takes it from thase who actually have money, or borrows it.
Someone (jdmeck)
Mar 21, 2013 7:55AM
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Almost ALL from military. Take that liberals. Nothing was invented by throwing away money on illegals or welfare families.
B B
Mar 21, 2013 10:40AM
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i can fix the budget in 24 hours , stop giving  our  money to  other country's ,our  gov. is  cutting the throats of  Americans  just to give money to country's that stab the  USA in the  back ,this means you Pakistan. i read they  get 30 BILLION a year to fight terrorist but instead they HIDE them. come on gov.stop "helping" others and  help our own  
koz42
Mar 26, 2013 5:19AM
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The biggest invention of the government is retirement and healthcare for senators and congressmen who spend as little time as possible earning it
all-that
Mar 20, 2013 8:12PM
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Interesting.  Google (concept) was invented using our tax dollars.

So, why is it that we don't still own it?

Stirringuptrouble
Mar 20, 2013 9:48PM
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So the government invented wind power -  give me a F'in break,  these articles just keep getting stupider and stupider.
albinomidget
Mar 21, 2013 9:13AM
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Government didn't do any of this.  Private contractors working for the government did this.  Private enterprise and the free market still do all of the innovation and come up with the technology.  Government can't tie its shoe much less invent something or balance a budget.  

All the government does is regulate its people.  Once the government controls its people too much there is either civil unrest and it falls or it comes down on its people with an iron fist like communism or dictatorship.  The only thing government should be responsible for is infrastructure and protecting it's people from anything foreign and domestic.  The US government is far bigger than intended and has far more control over its people than it should.  
zuksam
Mar 20, 2013 7:51PM
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And ALL THESE THINGS ARE NOW MADE IN CHINA !  A real wise investment.
Taxpayer 1
Mar 21, 2013 12:35PM
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The author is too stupid to understand the difference between funding and inventing.
Someone
Mar 21, 2013 8:23AM
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These are only the few inventions created by federally funded money.  This funding leads to many private sector jobs, medical advances and many of the things that make your life easier. That little gray disk that crisps your microwave pizza-both the disk material and the microwave are from federal funding. Medical advances that treat and cure cancer, sickle cell and other diseases. Did you also notice many of these were invented several years ago.  That is in part because over the past 20 years the federal government has cut funding by over 30% in real dollars and just cut another 10% at the beginning of March.  Federal funding for research pays forward by creating new products and medical treatments that the private sector takes advantage.
cej333
Mar 24, 2013 5:00PM
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Sure are a lot of crabby people in the world. You elect the government... you are all electing people without skills for good governance. You and you and you. You keep blaming it on the people you didn't vote for, but you voted for people who can't work with the people you did not vote for. 
nancy14513
Mar 21, 2013 12:59PM
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i like the invention where they tax us to death
Monte50
Mar 20, 2013 7:39PM
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Now the government has pissed off Al Gore.  You know he invented the internet.  The Fraud In Chief must make an apology on National television!!!!
dlh2448
Mar 21, 2013 10:52AM
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I notice the robotic squirrel is not listed here.
dhjfvhehdxchnfrd
Mar 21, 2013 12:47PM
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I call strict BS on this entire premise.  The Federal Government of the United States does not invent anything other than ways to dispossess the private economy of its wealth.  In that regard it is the Thomas Edison of plunder.  But confiscating our wealth to fund the private economy's R&D is not the same as inventing the stuff.  Presumably, all of the great stuff listed in this artical was or would have been invented anyway, and without the involvement of the Federal Government, way, way way cheaper.  

But the government will continue to tell you it invented all the good stuff so that it can continue to convince you of its necessity, so that you will continue to keep you big f---i'g mouth shut when it confiscates your money.  It ust continue to justify its plunder.  Like I said, "the Steve Jobs of confiscation."  
politicalnerd
Mar 30, 2013 2:22AM
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Get the government out of our lives but leave the gps, and the medicare and the highways and ....WE STILL HATE THE GOVERNMENT THOUGH. 
dave1230
Mar 31, 2013 8:26AM
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One could argue that the Interstate system we currently enjoy might have been the best investment of our tax dollars by the Government. Just think of how things would be if it didn't exist. The various Federal-Aid Highway Acts over the years has allowed for that to happen. If it was up to the states and the private sector, just how far behind would America be compared to the rest of the World. The states and the private sector weren't rushing to build out the Highway Systems.

Our Government saw it's importance. Waiting for the private sector to fund things might have meant America being far behind it's Global competition in many fields. So in spite of the waste, be careful what you wish for, it could spell your own demise.

O. B. L.
Mar 21, 2013 3:55PM
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Nope.  Everything is always developed by the free market.  The government is 100% incapable of doing anything right, write or rite.

Unless it is military.  Then it is 100% incapable of doing anything wrong. 

I am 100% correct that the two proceeding 100%s don't add up.  So I will go apply for a government job.  Because I am 100% incapable of working in corporate America.

I am 100% sure the majority of readers of this post will be incapable of seeing the humor.

thewhoser
Mar 20, 2013 11:16PM
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Wow... and only two of those inventions could be classed as almost non military in initial use... So what I'm seeing is only DOD projects are worth a darn. And that's the only thing the hippy liberals are willing to cut. None of the other spending helps the populace. Art and music only gives to those who care for art and music, something I don't need to be forcefed thankyou. Let's put the government to work making our lives safer, better, faster, more competitive. And we do this through DOD spending.

 

NASA was part of the DOD, the Surgeon General came from war too. Like it or not. Defense is the only thing the government can do well that helps the citizens.

Senior Dreams Demolisher
Mar 21, 2013 6:17AM
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Ten World -Changing Inventions you can NOT thank the government for;

10. Media

09. CSPAN                                                     I see Democrat and Republicans both as having

08. Propaganda                                            a part to play in the destruction of this country. We should 

07. Acronyms                                                 divide our Goverment, and not let them divide us.

06. G.M.O.                                                      

05. WMD's                                                        

04. S.O.P.A.                     

03. P.I.P.A.

02. Terrorism 

01. Drones

 

 

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