🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec30.230013.4102@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> Dr. Norman J. LaFave <lafave@ial4.jsc.nasa.gov> writes:

>>> The *relative* support of the space program is not very high.
>
>> Another Dietz assertion-without-proof... Please
>> provide data which shows the relative support.
>
>Okay!

The general consensus seems to be that public support for space
exploration is wide but not deep.  The majority of the people _do_
support government spending on space exploration, but only a small
minority place it among their top priorities.

The polling data presented does support Paul's claim that the relative
importance that most people place on space exploration is low compared
to the importance they place on more earthbound programs.  On the
other hand...

>   In response to the question
>
>     "I am going to ask you a question about government spending.
>      In answering, please bear in mind that sooner or later all
>      government spending has to be taken out of the taxes that you
>      and other Americans pay.  Thinking about the US space program,
>      tell me whether the amount of money now being spent for that purpose
>      should be increased, kept at the present level, reduced, or ended
>      altogether?"
>
>	   Year		Increase       Same   Reduce   End    No Opinion
>	   1984		   21%		48	23	5	3
>	   1986		   26		50	14	5	5
>	   1989		   27		42	22	4	5
>	   1990		   17		37	32     10	4

Even this data shows that a majority of the people (54%) support
spending at least as much as we currently do on space exploration.

In addition, another Gallup poll (quoted in Ad Astra about a year
ago), indicated that the public drastically overestimates the amount
of money being spent on space exploration.  Average estimates were
in the 5-10% range, when the actual figure is closer to 1%.

Personally, I believe that current spending levels ($14 billion/year)
could fund a vigorous, ambitious, manned and unmanned program of
orbital, lunar, and interplanetary exploration and development -- if
it were being spent properly...

5% of the federal budget ($60 billion/year) -- which most people seem
to feel is a reasonable proportion, if these polls are correct --
could fund a fantastic space program -- but again, only if it were
spent in the right ways and on the right things...

Followups are directed to talk.politics.space.
--
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Brian Yamauchi			Case Western Reserve University
yamauchi@alpha.ces.cwru.edu	Department of Computer Engineering and Science
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