I&#x27;m going to argue that direct public funding is the best way, and by that I mean the historical analogy of direct patronage or crowdfunding research today (e.g. experiment.com).<p>Today&#x27;s &#x27;big science&#x27; grant funding model is so far removed from the average citizen or constituent, that by the time they see or feel the impact, it&#x27;s hardly recognizable anymore. Because it&#x27;s behind paywalls, or is too technical, or locked in IP, or anti-collaboration.<p>What we need to solve this problem is a direct connection with research and science. If you were motivated to go out and seek an answer for yourself, then perhaps you&#x27;d be less likely to lean on witnesses, testimony, or experts that you don&#x27;t understand. The reality is that before the internet, people never really had that ability to go out and seek the truth for themselves. And I mean &#x27;Truth&#x27; with a capital T, within significance, reproducible, and transparent.<p>At least that&#x27;s best thing short of everyone becoming a scientist, or doing science independently.