What's wrong with the NSF starting that way? Are they not a significant source of funds for "basic science" research?
Even if you want to be cynical about this issue, haven't we been doing this long enough to know that research for military purposes often translates to advances in non-military applications?
EDIT: and don't get me wrong; I would love to see some shift in the way funds are allocated.
My point isn't that central coordination doesn't work, it was just that central coordination is extremely unsophisticated and is typically not a source of added insight, just a source of funds.
In my experience in academe, researchers tailor their work to what the NSF is funding, not what they consider most interesting/important.
Even if you want to be cynical about this issue, haven't we been doing this long enough to know that research for military purposes often translates to advances in non-military applications?
EDIT: and don't get me wrong; I would love to see some shift in the way funds are allocated.