the president mused about redirecting $3 billion in research grant funding that his administration has frozen or withdrawn

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    If this dopey motherfucker actually did this, I’d support it. Harvard can survive on less, and trade schools should be cheaper to encourage people learning trades.

    But that’s not what’s happening, not even a little bit. The money isn’t being redirected to where it will do more good. It’s being withheld for corrupt personal reasons, and the “thought” of using it for so me thing productive is half-formed horseshit that is never going to materialize.

    This is a technique Trump uses to deflect criticism, although I think it’s too stupid to have a name. Let’s call it the Ball Gargle. It’s an idea that, in retrospect, sounds like it might be a good idea, but it’s probably impossible and definitely never going to happen. So Trump does something obviously corrupt and deeply unpopular among people who aren’t total fucksticks. When the people who aren’t total fucksticks complain, Trump suggests ball gargling, and the fucksticks go “Yeah, see, that sounds good!” But Trump isn’t going to gargle any balls, and even if he tries it wouldn’t be any form of anything anyone anywhere wants.

    • FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee
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      5 days ago

      Grants often cover research, including equipment and salary for student researchers. So it might be that they pivot away from any science or medical field, which certainly seems like a desirable outcome for this administration.

      My wage for peer tutoring at my university was also grant funded, although that program (TRIO) has essentially been destroyed by Trump at this point.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      If this dopey motherfucker actually did this, I’d support it. Harvard can survive on less, and trade schools should be cheaper to encourage people learning trades.

      You think we should take money for cancer research and spend it making trade school cheaper?