🚀 go-pugleaf

ascott@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Alan Scott) writes:

>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. 

Like Mohair subsidies? Social Security for drug addicts? Or helium reserves
in Oklahoma? Research into Cow Farts?

NASA (and the others) are funded by a representative republic.
There was never a vote by "the people" on NASA, nor on the others.

One draw back in a republic seems to be "pork barrel" spending.
(Please note: a republic is still better than a democracy.)

>>
>>>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

If they are all educated then you wont need to take the money from them
in taxes. That would be nice.

>Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree.  Your part of society will

I guess so. But it just doesn't seem fair. While we disagree. You still
won. NASA still has my money.

>continue to build cars and burn fossil fuels, oblivious to other 
>possibilities, maintaining the status quo for those in control.

Uh, funding for NASA *IS* "the status quo for those in control."

>Perhaps the dream of space will be killed by a short-sighted society.

I'm not killing anyones dreams. I'm just trying to have some dreams
of my own.

You can still go to mars. I won't stop you. I just don't think it's
polite of you to demand that I help.

Look I like all this high tech stuff. Why do you think I'm reading
sci.space.*? I would like to help, but I want to be *asked* to help,
not *forced* to help.

-rex-
-- 
Margaret (and sometimes rex)        rbeard@holli.com