interent boom that happened in part to gov't research into the sciences. Had the gov't not invested in technology instead of relying on a private sector that is not motivated by curiosity and the enlightenment of all mankind but instead is interested in quartely earnings and only researches things it can sell, it wouldn't had happened.
we killed off things like NASA, arguing that the private sector will handle space travel. bullshit. private sector isn't going to explore for the sake of expanding knowledge, it's going to explore for the sake of profit.