Is it worth it?, page 1

Originally posted by sminneman

Originally posted by HowardRoark
Yes, I would. Why, because in the long run it is worth it. The money spent is a boost for the economy. Furthermore the research involved will be a huge incubator for technology. Technology that will translate directly into benefits in the private sector. That is what happened with the first moon program.

I don�t think that we would be better off spending the money on social engineering programs. I am not being heartless, I realize that there are job issues out there. But there is an old saying: �give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed hime for a lifetime.� That is exactly what a major program like this can do, it can stimulate growth in many different sectors in society.

So, put me down for: �yes it is worth it.�

I don't think this is as cut-and-dry as it used to be. During the first Space Race and the Cold War, when the government wanted to take on some massive research and construction project, they contracted with some major US corporation, who walked out into their backyards and hired people to do the work. In that scenario, yes, it directly helps the economy and creates jobs.

Now, however, it's not so simple. When the government wants something, they contract with some major US corporation, who then goes to China, or India, or Mexico, or Central America, or Taiwan, or basically any country other than the United States, and hires people to do the work. In this scenario, the US economy receives absolutely no benefit whatsoever. The only Americans receiving any sort of benefit are the execs and shareholders of the contracting corporation, and giving a multi-millionaire extra money doesn't stimulate any sort of spending at all.

Yes, there most likely will be technological advances come out of a reinvigorated space program that will be useful to general society. However, I tend to place current needs at a higher importance level than vague and uncertain future benefits.

Therefore, I am quite strongly against Bush's proposal (as if it weren't already obvious).

Personally, i am in the high technology/military department, and while it may seem like getting cheap labor from China is the rage these days, places like china , india, micronesia.....etc. are not able to build an exportable product on thier own terms....so then please explain to me how they are going to build such things as massive fuel pumps, gyros and phase inverters on an almost infinite scale? American corporations might only be looking out for themselves at times..but NOT when it comes to ultra high technology.

on the question of "how will we raise the money" its "only" 1 billion over 4 years ( which might not be alot for our country as a whole , but is a HUGE amount for NASA"....I believe that to support the Gov. people could buy "NASA" bonds if they want to give some more money. It would not be alot, but some here and there will go a long way.

secondly, once the Governments space industry takes off, the commercial aerospace sector will take off too. I mean, it will become cheaper and cheaper as american and european companies get a piece of the pie. Its a domino effect, its been proven before everytime there is a time of exploration. ie....Columbus.....henry hudson " the hudsons bay company"...west india trade co... just to name a few oldies. Newer ones would be the massive conglomerates of Boeing, AT T Bell, Lucent and the susequent lanslide of computer and software compaies in the mid 70s, all becuase of the renewed expolartion of a differnt location. As if you havent figured it out, i am for this. I would rather see my money spent on HUMAN ADVANCEMENT, that be spent on a welfare queen that has 15 kids from 3 fathers and gets a bigger paycheck than i have ever seen, considering they dont get tax taken away....... i can sense some peoples anger at this....lets see how i get "chewed out"