This blog and the upcoming issue of the Michigan Independent discuss the erosion of the funding of the sciences and the detrimental effects on long term economic growth and progress in the United States. Nature reports the same occurrence in the United Kingdom as well. From the article:

“The EPSRC scale-back, which will mean grant cuts of up to 15% for investigator-led research areas and job losses, comes just months after the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council announced funding cuts of around £80 million and a 25% reduction in grant money (see Nature 451, 386; 2008). “

The UK too is experiencing declines in economic growth, and their neglect at key initiatives that will foster new industries and bring in intellectual talent is truly puzzling. Is this a greater Western Hemispherical problem? Failed initiatives such as the EIT come to mind in the lack of political will to push scientific initiatives forward. So if we are to leave the Eastern powers to build up their scientific regiment while we are complacent with ours, we need no reason to be surprised when they finally do overtake us as the world’s economic and/or intellectual superpower.