Space Exploration

[Steve Wood]

Okay, we have no brainstorms for the use of illegal drugs, so, how about space exploration??

The President has proposed that the United States should spend a lot of money over a long period of time to explore our solar system, and, ultimately, beyond.

Do you feel that space exploration is a worthy goal and worth the money? And if you do, should the United States do this primarily on its own, or, should this be a joint effort funded by all that wish to participate, and, pay?

[ULYCYC]

We are all paying for illegal aliens here so why not pay for aliens from out of space. Maybe will will get a better return on our investment.

[NCBuickGN]

Thanks directly to the Clinton/Loral technology transfer, we've got a new Space Race with China.

They are hoping to be the first to establish a colony on the Moon.

[mrwiizrd]

The space program has yielded many worthwhile inventions to aide in life here on earth.

[motorhead]

I think that Dubya has been watching too many Star Trek re-runs.

Since you are busy poking holes in things... why not travel to the centre of the Earth?

I suppose the only advantage to attempting to inhabit an uninhabital space, is, that is where we are destined to go anyway. This planet is taking a sh!t kickin'.

[TWIN86GNS]

Originally posted by ULYCYC
We are all paying for illegal aliens here so why not pay for aliens from out of space. Maybe we will get a better return on our investment.

[motorhead]

Originally posted by TWIN86GNS

Note: This is Paul's 1000th post. Nothing but good Canadian quality content. ;)

[ULYCYC]

Originally posted by mrwiizrd
The space program has yielded many worthwhile inventions to aide in life here on earth.

Yep, Tang orange drink and pens that can write upside down below 32 deg

[Scott GN231]

Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but I don't think you can give an educated reply without knowing the cost and where the money is going to come from.

These things have a great way of driving technology, but at what cost?


<snip>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES STATEMENT
Friday, January 9, 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STATEMENT OF ROBERT GREENSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES,
REGARDING THE WHITE HOUSE MOON/MARS INITIATIVE

The moon/Mars initiative will cost many hundreds of billions of dollars, possibly as much as $1 trillion. The President should indicate where the money will come from.

In the past three years, what were multi-trillion dollar budget surpluses projected for the coming decade have turned into multi-trillion dollar budget deficits. We have not experienced such severe budget deterioration in so short a time period since World War II caused the nation's defense budget to grow sharply. Agencies such as the International Monetary Fund now are warning of potentially grave long-term consequences if we do not change course and get our fiscal house in order. Given these looming deficits, there is no money available in current or future budgets for the expensive new space endeavor.

So the President needs to lay out where the money will come from. Will he agree to scale back some of the munificent and very costly tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Since the answer seems to be "no," what parts of the budget does he propose to cut — Medicare, education, environmental pollution, other areas, in order to finance the space initiative? Or does he propose not to finance it and simply to allow deficits to become even larger, with adverse consequences down the road for the economy and the standard-of-living of average families?

In 2001, we were told we could have it all — large tax cuts, a major defense build-up, a Medicare drug benefit, and more — without going into deficit at all. That proved wrong. It now is clear that we cannot simultaneously proceed with the tax cuts, a prescription drug benefit, a global war against terrorism, efforts to improve our education system, measures to make Social Security and Medicare solvent for the long term, and the new space initiative. Something (probably many things) has to give. We should not repeat the mistakes of the past and dig the deficit hole even deeper, which would load still larger financial burdens on younger generations.

For more information, access the Center's web site at <http://www.cbpp.org>.

[mrwiizrd]

Originally posted by ULYCYC
Yep, Tang orange drink and pens that can write upside down below 32 deg

Tang is good stuff, but I'm partial to the astronaut ice cream myself.

[NCBuickGN]

Some are proposing a $10,000 bond being posted with every application for a work or student visa. That would help the Treasury.

[mike85gn]

Originally posted by ULYCYC
pens that can write upside down below 32 deg

That's funny how the Russians just used a pencil...

[plowboy72]

with imits yes, to much has coe from the space program in th last 30 yrs. But put a cap on how much they can spend on it over a yr. That will do three things first save some money for J. Q. Public, second make hem do mor with less instead of pending billions on everyday things like $600 hammers or $250 wrenches, lastly it will free up money for other great things like stemcell research.

[Zap]

Bush proposes amnesty for illegal aliens and then a few days later proposes a moon base....hmmmmmm.

It's a cookbook! A cookbook! (I can't speak spanish or I would have posted this in Spanish)


Sure, we must boldly go where no man has gone before. Most of the other stuff the govt. spends money on is useless, so if it doesn't work, no loss.


Rather than the approach we took during the cold war, this time we should cooperate with any nation willing. A purely scientific purpose, rather than "let's beat them" should be the goal.

How else are we going to get to the three-breasted women of Zeptonoliaz?

[mrwiizrd]

Originally posted by Zap
How else are we going to get to the three-breasted women of Zeptonoliaz?

:think: exactly