The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a worthwhile project.

"In answer to his suggestion that the LHC is unnecessary as there are already numerous other colliders, I reply that it will help prove or disprove scientific theories that existing colliders are not big or powerful enough to do" More absolute evidence that this machine will only be useful to the very few privileged who get to use it for their own personal endeavors. "Prof. Hawking reckons the scientists at CERN are talking out of their backsides and has bet them $100 that they won't find the Higgs boson! " I have one of the worlds premiere physicist on my side of the argument by my opponents own admission. "My opponent questioned the practical applications of the LHC and claimed that there are no identifiable "spin-offs" from the project." The machine has been built and there have been no spin-offs from it's construction. My opponent has not provided a single example. I provided the only one that could be found and that example is weak at best. "For example, we would not be taking part in this online debate had not scientists working for NASA and CERN developed the Internet." The Internet is based on known technology before it was invented. It was called telecomunications, this is very old technology. The idea to connect computers together was easily achieved using old technology. Wait that sounds like the spin off from the LHC. Furthermore the Internet will not benefit from the LHC and it is irrelevant to the topic of this debate. They are completely unrelated in every way. The Internet was funded privately not by the govt "In conclusion, although at this stage, it may be difficult to quantify the social and economic benefits the LHC will bring, doesn't mean there won't be any." But you still want Joe tax payer to flip the bill based on little or no quantifiable gain either now or in the future. My opponent has only empty promises to the tax payer and then has the audacity to say that if nothing is learned, oh well back to the drawing boards and back to the tax payer to build yet another billion dollar boondoggle at the taxpayers expense to serve the the needs of the very few who will only benefit from the next big billion dollar pork barrel project. The pattern is clear, If something has great promise for the future the private sector will build it and fund it as is the case for almost every major invention to come down the pike that has improved life for humanity. One one must ask the question why does the private sector want nothing to do with funding this project. I have provided concrete and research able evidence that this project serves only the people involved and that the people involved only offer pie in the sky whimsical and wonderful advances for humanity without even having any experimental outlines to be used on this machine. What I mean by that is this. If I Joe taxpayer were to build this billion dollar machine what kinds of experiments will be performed other than the single experiment sited. Surely the must be a outline of the next experiment to be performed if the first one produces any verifiable results. I submit to you the tax payer there are none. I guess after that we can put frogs in it and shoot them with particles to see what happens.