“…War is a crucible of innovation…” – CB Having been a CFO, ROI is of little value when doing a full situational analysis.
And, when it comes to R & D, almost all ‘research’ claimed by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE, etc. (see: http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/ ) is in fact produced in publicly funded Universities and then taken/ given to the private sector. Since ‘we’ have to pay for everything the private sector makes with no credit for our initial funding, I don’t see how much ‘benefit’ can be claimed, at least not in a material nor financial way. Overall, the military budget is seen as being bloated and wasteful. While a political reference and only a very quick overview, some information can be gleaned at: http://www.votenader.org/issues/military-budget/ As to Burt Rutan, perhaps he influenced the BD series that found it’s way into Budwiser commercials as well as James Bond films. And, of course, Scaled is owned by Northrop Grumman. Since this company is on the NYSE (NOC), perhaps one can get a great ROI by purchasing stock? Of course, you would be owning a lot of waste too. Cases in point: “Based on year 2002 data, researchers at the Political Economy Research Institute of the University of Massachusetts identified Northrop Grumman as the 17th-largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States; according to their study, Northrop Grumman facilities released more than 520,000 pounds of toxic chemicals into the air in that year.” “The corporation has also been linked to 52 superfund toxic waste sites.” “In 2003, the company was among 84 parties with which the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the state of New York reached an estimated US$ 15 million settlement for the rehabilitation of the Mattiace Petrochemical Company Superfund site in Glen Cove, Long Island; in the same year, Northrop Grumman agreed to pay $33,214 after EPA inspectors found hazardous waste violations at the Capistrano test site.” “Northrop Grumman has had to deal with multiple scandals during its history. The company was sued in 1999 for allegedly knowingly giving the Navy defective aircraft. This suit seeks $210 million in damages and is ongoing. Then in 2003, the company was sued for allegedly overcharging the U.S. government for space projects in the 1990s. Northrop Grumman paid $111.2 million to settle that suit out of court.” You can also see how they figure into the purchase of political power. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman So, yes, I agree, the full story may include a lot of different issues and the ‘bottom line’, in this case deemed to be financial, continues to appear to be a big loss. On Nov 3, 7:26 am, CrossBow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I did not suggest we should ever start a war to promote R&D. My > question better put was, if anything, what innovative gains have we > made? I just wonder how it rolls out on paper...it is an aspect that > is interesting. War is a crucible of innovation. Nasty for sure, but > it happens. > > I'm just glad folks like Burt Rutan are going to the outer limits of > the atmosphere with private funding, sans military. > > On Nov 3, 9:20 am, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi y'all - all I can see is a huge defecit. R&D can be performed in > > many locations. We don't need to start, and try to control, a civil > > war to practice on. > > > On Nov 3, 9:04 am, CrossBow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Wonder how all that spendage relates in a return on investment as regards > > > to military research and development? what is the return on investment? I > > > know of some: composites, computer security...can anyone else see any > > > positive return on military R&D? > > > > wonder if anyone has numbers on that side? [?] > > > > On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 8:43 AM, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi y'all - yes, it is almost as much as I lost last month during the > > > > debacle. > > > > > On Nov 1, 10:26 pm, "Jason (Memphis)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > wrote: > > > > > $3,000,000,000,000 for a war is a lot of money. That is more money > > > > > than I made since the beginning of the war. :-) > > > > > > On Nov 1, 10:55 pm, ornamentalmind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > >http://www.good.is/?p=12104-Hidequotedtext - > > > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > > 329.gif > > > < 1KViewDownload- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
