posted on Apr, 28 2013 @ 01:18 AM
This is an example of what happens when politics and ideology meet physics.
In reality, helium is a critical and depleting resource---it is produced, extremely slowly, by the radioactive decay of minerals in the earth.
The idea that private industry can "manufacture" helium is preposterous---they can only tap and deplete, far more rapidly, a limited reserve.
The Federal government may be screwed up (it is!) but the notion that a private industry which gets paid by flow, and without regard to long-term
depletion, would be better is insane. They would just deplete it faster for short-term profits---as did the 100% capitalist oil companies who
depleted the United Kingdom's North Sea oil reserves at $15 a barrel during the 1990's, all following impeccable return-on-investment spreadsheets and
capitalist logic.
Helium is
literally irreplaceable for superconducting magnets in MRI and other critical physics apparatus.
Screw birthday parties, fundamental science and engineering is on the line.
Think. What would the Chinese do? They are interested in developing a successful civilization over then next 500 years.
edit on 28-4-2013 by mbkennel because: (no reason given)
edit on 28-4-2013 by mbkennel because: (no reason given)