Canie...I would just complete your last line from my point of view

"so we're back to federal funding after all.."...so we are s&%$ out of luck because of the deficit, thanks to W's tax cuts (which I suppose some Democrats supported), and thanks to W's most recent war (I, like most others, supported the Afghanistan war....but opposed this one before it started).

There simply is not going to be enough money to do research at past levels...and the only way that work on earthquakes will get any increases in funding would be at the expenses of something else. I personally do not think we have to send humans to Mars anytime soon, and I was also glad when the cancelled the mega ($10 billion+) collider being tunnelled under Texas. Some smart decisions have to make where the available science money should go. Personally, I think it should all go to me...let the others eat cake.

Oh, by the way, I have opinions (surprise!) about earthquake science in California but can't even hint at this because it would get me in real trouble.
Chris