Defending the land grants - reposted from Myrmecos

My friend Alex Wild has an excellent post detailing Michigan State University entomologist Anthony Cognato's appearance on Fox News in defense of stimulus funds for entomological endeavors. I urge you to read the post and watch the clip. This antipathy is part of a larger, disturbing trend of attack against the public institutions who have been the greatest single engine of economic growth and sustainability in the history of the US. I am deeply passionate about the land grant mission. It's as important now as it was 150 years ago.