🚀 go-pugleaf

Mike Steele (msteele@freenet.niagara.com) wrote:
: bromley blair pat (bromley@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu) wrote:
: : msteele@freenet.niagara.com (Mike Steele) writes:

: :    
: :      Sure it can.   The moon only takes 3 days, and mars can be reached
: :      in 7 months using current technologies.

: 	Okay, you got me there....  What I mean is that neither is 
: inhabitable without a large capital investment.

Hmmm. I'm sure that Columbus's crew must have had some misgivings about
falling off the end the the planet as they knew it. Knowledge is the key,
and limiting future exploration will only make this worse.


: : >	Oh, come on now!  How can it help Canada's situation?  Let see 
: : >some facts, some sort of study!  All I can see is a programme to eat at 
: : >our debt (anything that wastes the nation's money affects the debt.  
: : >That's what the debt is), with NO ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL GAIN/BENEFITS for 
: : >years to come.  With no gain, it certainly can't help the Canada's 
: : >situation (and please don't explaing to me how a moon rock will solve the 
: : >welfar problem).

: :     The average Canadian spends about a seventh of his American counter
: :     part on space exploration and development, and the average American
: :     spends about $50 a year on space; this is less than 0.5 % of the
: :     budget.  At the very least, every dollar spent generates a dollar,
: :     so the program/investment is not a money sink.

: 	Every dollar spent generate a dollar? Huh? Explain that one again 
: please...
e
 Easy, if it's back in the system, someone esle is using it. Thus, it is not
 wasted, it is producind something for someone else.


: :     Compare this with money spent on welfare, UI, excessive health care,
: :     plus a few other things.
: 	
: 	Health care is the last thng that should be cut.  I like the fact 
: that I pay taxes to keep me healthy.

What aboutnthe other things listed, some of which are discrimminatory and
unfair in thier very implementation.


: :     Space exploration and development is a social and economic gain.

: 	I believe in a space programme, funding should not be cut, nor 
: should it be increased, for the time being, of course...  Give Paul 
: Martin a chance to balance the books a bit more...

  This is fair. However, it, like many other technologically significanr things
  in Canadian history, has been cut in favour of the almighty social programme.
: :     
: :       Judicious investment of funds and cutting out wasteful spending
: :       will get rid of the deficit and pay off the debt.  

: : >: >    The only argument people need to go to space is the same one
: : >: >    used for any explorer / adventurer:  Because it's there.

: : >	I agree.  It is there, but it is too expensive to bring here.
: :         
: : 	It really isn't too expensive.  30 million Canadians have
: : 	enough wealth they can pool together to some impressive
: : 	things, provided that they remain committed to it.

: 	It's hard to stay committed in something doesn't entertain 
: immediate results, especially for 30 million people (or 20 000, in the 
: case of the NJ Devils)

Chuckle. However, in light of the Jets tragedy, let's have a moment of silence
in remembrance of the death of yet another Canadian icon on the alter of social
conciousness.

: :       

: -- 
: Mike Steele			| St. Catharines -- Canada's Canal City
: msteele@freenet.niagara.com	|              Go Leafs!       

Ken