Scientists are marching on Earth Day to, among other things, protest "proposed U.S. government budget cuts under President Donald Trump." The US government is $20 trillion in debt; cuts need to be made. Scientists are also troubled by "attacks on science." Modern 'science' frequently deserves to be challenged. The Replication Crisis entirely justifies the falling status of science in the public mind. The pressure to publish or perish has led to a lot of junk getting published.
Generally speaking, government should get out of funding science. If citizens are unwilling to fund research voluntarily, why should the government coerce them to do so through their tax dollars? Let them do crowdfunding. Perhaps scientists could sell shares in the eventual profits to be earned from the research. When scientists want money from government, I always think on a particular scene from Ghostbusters:
Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've WORKED in the private sector. They expect *results*.
Dr. Raymond Stantz
You're scientists. It is beneath you to be marching for handouts.
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