Politics is important.

Its much better to be alive in modern America than North Korea, or any other dictatorship.

But when we look at quality of life, science usually outreaches politics.

Universality

Electric light bulbs might have been invented under a free-market democracy, but they run just as well under communism.

Same too with vaccines, GMO foods, well-bred foods, the internal combustion engine, telecommunication lines, concrete, steel, etc etc.

Less efficient economies don’t deliver these technologies to everyone as well, but the tech works the same.

Even if the U.S. leads AI development, other nations will likely catch up within a few years. A point more recently made relevant by Deepseek.

Effects of Practitioners

Norman Borlaug is credited with saving a billion people from starvation.

Edward Jenner is credited with developing the first vaccine. The development of vaccines from that point on has saved millions.^1^2^3

Compare that to the legacy of well known political leaders, and the results are not so clear cut.

And then there is Mao and Stalin.

George Washington or Alexander Hamilton, or any other founding fathers do not often get quoted as having “millions saved”. Although maybe they should get more credit on this.

The scientific method is a process which can be followed and results created. The effects of engaging in political discourse is not so clear. An individual or small group can clearly improve the human condition through science.

Conclusion

If you are in the middle of being tortured as a result of some tyrannical regime, then it does not matter much that eggs have been cheaper for your whole life or that you were vaccinated.

However, barring government going full crazy, there are more Practical Gains to be made by spending Time and Energy focused on Science and Technology than politics.