Your assumption that research for research sake is only possible because of government is bogus. This is, I think, what you're not groking. All the internet $billionaires want to live forever. They'll fund anything and everything toward that end. Including telomeres and research for research sake. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2015/04/04/tech-titans-latest-project-defy-death/
my whole point was that funding came after the initial research that found the link to aging. Once that link exists, sure there will be motive. But that original research for research sake needed to happen to uncover the possible connections to longer life spans. Once that discovery was made the topic became sexy.
I've said twice (three times) now that we need basic research. My contention is you don't need government funding to have basic research. And that government funding crowds out private effort in this area. And that less money ends up going toward basic research as a result. IBM spelled with atoms. Basic research. Maybe someday it will be useful or trigger an idea for other research in someone.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/phage-alzheimers-cure/ Not basic research. Specific objectives before even getting funding. Solomon raised $7M in private money. http://neurophage.com/neurophage-ra...ating-alzheimers-neurodegenerative-disorders/
