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It is sad that Scott Atlas doesn’t understand basic economics. Paul Samuelson wrote about public goods—why NIH has been such a stunning success—more than 75 yrs ago. Also, to see why Atlas urges ending US success, just look at who elevates him: pro-privatization billionaires. 1/

It’s ironic that Atlas begins by quoting Milton Friedman when the whole article fails to grapple with the market failures created by fundamental research—which is both a Samuelson public good and an information good (eg Arrow). papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

The reason the US has such a powerful science and innovation ecosystem is simple: decades of public investment (via largely independent agencies, including NIH and NSF). Basic science builds future cures over a timeline too long for the private sector. /3 www.infotimes.us/basic-scienc...

There is no way for the private sector to replace public investment in science. youtu.be/A47gXLNc7vQ?...

Sorry I meant to make this the first image

now he’s writing an anti-society pro-privatization article in the conservative Bezos Post. This book describes how far-right billionaires have pushed to harm democracy using “stealth politics” - lifting up junk ideas via thinktanks and rightwing media. press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

Stealth politics and oligarch ownership of media is why this article exists. Take what Atlas says with that bias in mind. He’s been selected and elevated by billionaires because what he says helps billionaires.

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we can do better: we can support the public interest, freedom-including good health, equality for everyone, curbing the tyranny created by billionaires, and a free and fair marketplace of ideas. The opposite of what this is.