> "The university existed before capitalism"<p>Seeming "capitalism" was said to be coined by Karl Marx, this much is obvious.<p>> "Without public investment, universities are compelled to play by private sector rules, i.e., to operate like businesses."<p>Ok, so is the issue that "science" now has to play the same rules as everyone else? (there was some sort of saying of "ivory tower academics" - I guess the ivory tower isn't as strong anymore?)<p>I agree wholeheartedly that science and academia should get public funding, more public funding the better, 110%. My wife's entire family is a family of scientists and I wanted to be a scientist too, when I was younger.<p>Not sure where that public spending money should really come from.. not "Take from the poor, give to the academics."<p>Should the title rather be:<p>"Academia is now threatened by economics like everything else" ?