Re:Slashdot reader are naive (suprise!) (Score 1)

I agree with Dirk Pitt: it is not exactly a causal relationship -- the Ph.D is incidental. Universities are a primary source of funding for research. Doing said research earns you a Ph.D. It's very rare to get a research position anywhere without advanced education, and it's very hard to do research without funding.

If you are dedicated to innovation and research, Universities and Ph.Ds are the modern well-beaten (and well-funded) path, not the cause of the innovation.