I think in your lists, JBravo, only one of those inventions came from government funded research. The Slinky.
Now please explain how the study of human-elephant conflict could result in such a life changing, amazing, and much needed for the betterment of humanity discovery such as the Slinky.
Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy
The government funded more than just the Slinky. For example, the guys who confirmed the Big Bang Theory were working at Bell Labs at the time, which receives various government contracts. Wilhelm Röntgen was doing his research at Columbia University when he made his discovery, again very unlikely he did so without some sort of government grant.
I prefer to believe that the people doling out the grants have a better idea of the applications and research behind them than you or I do given that they're actually scientists and have knowledge of the field.
Also, I wouldn't diss the Slinky. I bet that thing has more than paid back the cost of its research in profits from sales to all the kids that have enjoyed the hell out of that thing! I bet it also taught scientists a thing or two about materials science and physics too.