i think what CAT13 was trying to say is... that apart from making lots of scientists very interested/curious/happy, what are its benefits or potential benefits to everyday man? will it pave the way for newer, faster, cheaper technology for everyone? will it cure HIV/AIDS, cancer etc? will it help people?
would $6 billion (or whatever) have been better spent on hospitals in Africa, or helping people in the Sudan, or gone towards renewable energy technologies?
thats not really my opinion, but just wanted to try and clarify the argument.
in perspective, $6 billion dollars is not a lot of money. Hell, 'makepovertyhistory' couldnt improve african peoples lives with 60 billion pounds! I heard somebody say that its more likely that aliens will fly down and land on the loch ness monsters head than the world will end because of the LHC. Finally, i believe that the LHC is one of the greatest undertakings of modern science, and it shows the fantastic ability of humans to work towards a goal. if i remember right, 5000 scientists, and 23 different countries (not including companies) have put effort into this, and thousands more have theorised about it. at any rate, its exciting stuff.