Because it's now very "sensitive" to ask *soft-questions* on MO, I prefer to take my care.  

I would like ask "**Why fund the research in pure mathematics?**" on MO (in community-wiki mode),  
with the tags: "soft-question", "career", "society".  

> **Question**: Is this question allowed on MO? Is it useful and clear ?   


 
**Content**: The research in [pure mathematics][1] has (generally) no other choice that being funded  by public organizations and universities, so that the money allocated to it (for new positions, new institutes, conferences...) depends on decisions of people with high responsibilities (generically *politicians*), who are (generally) unfamiliar with this research area.     
Through this question, I would like to know and understand, on one hand, the main arguments of the *politicians* (or eq.) for deciding to allocate a particular proportion of their budget to the research in pure mathematics, and on the other hand, the main arguments of the *mathematicians* themselves.  
I'm also interested in new (or not sufficiently developed publicly) arguments.  
**Remark**: In order to be fair, the arguments in support **or** against (either some or more) fund the research in pure mathematics, are likewise requested (see [this comment][4] of [Steven Landsburg][3]). 

> I've posted this question on politics.se (as suggested by the answer of Bjørn):  
[Why fund the research in pure mathematics?][2]    

**Remark**: I hope there will have relevant and useful answers on politics.se (of course you can go answer,  comment or improve the post there), else I will come back here for asking about a migration on MO.

  


  [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_mathematics
  [2]: http://politics.stackexchange.com/questions/3091/why-fund-the-research-in-pure-mathematics
  [4]: http://meta.mathoverflow.net/questions/1609/is-the-question-why-fund-the-research-in-pure-mathematics-allowed-on-mo#comment7408_1609
  [3]: http://www.thebigquestions.com/the-author/