Publishers' Attack Free Government Sites

An anonymous reader writes "After succeding in getting the DOE's PubScience shutdown the Software and Information Industry Association and publishers' are now targeting more. If the trend continues local tax dollars will increasingly be spent to buy access to information the federal government used to provide."

Comments

But entertainment wants to be paid!

[wiredog]

And so do programmers, web page designers, and bandwidth providers.

Re:Apostrophes?

[Rubbersoul]

I second that motion

Re:Apostrophes?

[tps12]

I agree. The correct form would be:

Publishers' Attack Free Government Site's

Editors: plz fix k thx

Re:Knowledge wants to be free!

[October_30th]

I don't recall anywhere the right to have any and all research which "could" have application in the next decade developed and paid for by the population as a whole.

That's not the case.

Applications for government funded research projects are evaluated by the scientists themselves. In general, no-hope and crackpot projects do not get through and get funding. If the government does not pay for general basic research, no-one will (except giants like IBM but that's only for their own narrow projects).

But then again, I gladly pay taxes for public health care, controlled welfare (=with an evaluation of whether you're really trying to get back on your feet made every 6 months for two years; if not, you're out), national infrastructure (roads, railroads, airways), public transportation as well as police and the rescue services.

Grudginly I also pay for the military which, in my opinion, should always be the first target when it comes to cutting government budget.