Hacker News Reader

Such a useless comment. Mathematics was arrived at by research which everyone shared when the vast majority of the research was happening...

View on HN

I'm not sure why it's useless. If you're going to account for value provided by external sources then account for all sources, not just the ones that support your argument.

For what are you accounting? Most mathematics has been known about for 100+ years... IMO, This comment was a reason for you to hear yourself "talk" or alternatively for you to take a (weak) shot at the U.S.

Lets see, mathematics[1], language[2], writing[3], the printing press[4], scientific method[5]. Each of these innovations are absolutely required for the innovation that pharma companies produce, and none originated in the US.

Your 100 year cut-off point is entirely arbitrary and chosen only because it supports your arguments.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mathematics

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_language

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_writing

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_scientific_method

Reply on news.ycombinator.com