There are several arguments against the Superconducting Supercollider that come from outside high-energy physics.
- High-energy physics, an exciting pioneer field in science, suffers from Big Science syndrome: it requires massive efforts in human and material resources to further the acquisition of knowledge. Meanwhile, areas systemic research show great promise with only moderate expenditure of resources.
- Huge potential breakthroughs in the principles of accelerator building (such as the superconducting materials) promise a reduction in cost of 1000 times or more. A Superconducting Supercollider built now using the old technologies appears to be uneconomical and obsolete.
- There is no serious competitive threat from other countries to build a similarly huge accelerator. Even if there were, projects of this magnitude should be undertaken as a cost-sharing international effort.
- Since the SSC would consume about 10 percent of U.S. funds for all basic research each year of its existence, it would disturb the balance...
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