Hi Monkeyleg. Yes, I have been pretty busy, and also got quite sick of liberals, so I kept away for a long while.
The reason why I believe in gov support for fundamental research is because the private sector, with the notable exception of pharmaceutal companies, does not do nearly as much fundamental research as they used to several decades ago. Much more is driven by the bottom line and long-term projects are proportionately less funded than before. I do believe in the force of the free market, but certain technological accomplishments are just too financially intensive and time-consuming to be done by the private sector anymore. Not that they cannot afford it; it is a question of leadership, culture, and timescale expectations.
To convince yourself in that, consider how long it would have taken for the Manhattan Project to be financed and organized by private capital, on the lure of nuclear power for domestic and industrial use, for example. Yes, the gov had thousands of private subcontractors to do a lot of the supply, building, and engineering, but it provided the framework, organization, and most importantly the financial backing and the hard push for it.
From this perspective, controlled productive fusion or a comprehensive list of lesser developments is essentially accessible within the necessary timeframe by a level of commitment that only fedgov can match. All I am saying is it can; whether it would is a different question. Also, there are internal and external interests that fight tooth and nail against it.
Fedgov does not mandate technological advancements or the laws of physics, but it can provide financing, organization, and long-term commitment. Of course, there are no Germans to compete with, so political will is far more difficult to muster and sustain. That is why I am not optimistic for the future of this nation and the world.