🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <rbeard.801449952@walnut>,
Rex Beard <rbeard@walnut.holli.com> wrote:
>ascott@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Alan Scott) writes:
>
>>of people who agree with me are probably in a scientific field as well by
>>a logical consequence.  So here we are producing something of value while
>
>Who says you're producing something of value? How do you know it has
>value? Because *you* value it. Well *I* value something else. I *don't*
>value NASA. So why do you make me pay for it?

The majority of society values it.   Otherwise the government wouldn't be
funding it.  That's one of the better uses of democracy. 

>Politicians *never* do anything without immediate returns. They have to
>stand for election frequently. Sometimes they do things that have

They are not concerned about monetary returns to the government.  The only
returns that politicians worry about is votes.  If they realize that 
funding the space program will increase votes, they will continue to do that.

>value over the long run, but only when they get immediate returns from
>voters.
>
>>course.  That is why I am speaking up for this issue.  TO show that there
>>is interest and people do feel the need for the space program.
>
>And just how good has that long term commitment been? Space Station?
>Super Collider? Space Shuttle? Are we still on the moon?
>

My point. 

>
>>The free market tends to favour the materialistic philosophy.  The 
>>democratic process is the only way the middle class can speak up for
>
>The "majority of voters" if given the chance would seriously cut back
>NASA. The reason it hasn't been cut more is because *most* of that
>majority is more concerned with something else while a very vocal minority
>is *very* concerned with keeping it.
>
>But this isn't a debate over what the majority wants.

Here, I think is the crux of the issue.  The only way to continue with the
space program is to educate the people.  Let them know that the money used
for space research results in numerous spinoff technologies which will
enhance their lives.  Most people, and you have even said this yourself,
don't believe that the space program will affect them at all.  This is
proven to be wrong.  

Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree.  Your part of society will
continue to build cars and burn fossil fuels, oblivious to other 
possibilities, maintaining the status quo for those in control.
Perhaps the dream of space will be killed by a short-sighted society.

>
>>Al Scott--The Bard  Company of Dreams
>-- 
>Margaret (and sometimes rex)        rbeard@holli.com


-- 
"If I get good enough at insulting anybody who questions my
bullshit ideology, I might only have to defend one untenable
piece of bullshit at a time, instead of two..."  Ted Holden Himself.
Al Scott--The Bard  Company of Dreams