to return to specifics, this thread is about the NIH. cutting indirects overnight to 15% with zero warning is vandalism. the united states was a world leader (this means it produced and attracted the best) in this area, hopefully it will remain so despite this vandalism.
with respect to common core, as far as i can tell, nationalization efforts were initiated under bush ii, and then driven over the past two decades by institutions, states and federal support. some states follow it, others do not. i don't see your point.