Some Tea Partiers love govt spending, so long as it's NASA

[dwdollar]

Honestly I think NASA and NSF are lowest on the list of what needs to go.

Same here. I'd much rather see the money go to science than bailing out banks, more entitlements, or more pointless wars. Apparently, some don't think so...

 

[tremendoustie]

Same here. I'd much rather see the money go to science than bailing out banks, more entitlements, or more pointless wars. Apparently, some don't think so...

If Obama's on the phone offering to end the wars, bailouts, and entitlements, if we'll only let him keep NASA, then yes, I'd take that deal.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure we're allowed to oppose all of the above.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

I am employed by nasa (for now), and I would convert funding to voluntary contracts, ASAP. Government funding makes it an unaccountable, wasteful, ineffective behemoth. Private contracts mean accountability.

I am glad -t appreciates space science, as do I. I suggest he contributes his own money to that cause, and helps raise money from others who are interested, as well as industrial and educational institutions. I suggest he does not support extorting the money from his neighbors, at the point of a gun.

I would LOVE a system of voluntary taxation with people able to direct / donate money to agencies / programs of their liking.

I'm sure NASA would be rolling in cash! and agencies like the FCC, BATFE, CPSC, etc. would be scraping to buy a box of paperclips if we did it this way. "Democracy" in action!

Though since you feel that way about it, I'm sure everyone here would be happy to divide your paycheck - you know, if you wanted to return those stolen gains...

-t

 

[dwdollar]

If Obama's on the phone offering to end the wars, bailouts, and entitlements, if we'll only let him keep NASA, then yes, I'd take that deal.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure we're allowed to oppose all of the above.

We have to be realistic. Cutting down NASA is very short-sided. Are we getting a tax cut if NASA is downsized? Of course not... So let's keep it in space exploration, and not let it go to useless slugs, banker mansions, and death drone research.

This is all academic, really. It assumes America is repairable, which it isn't. It's just a matter of time now...

 

[LibertyBrews]

Space exploration isn't profitable for the moment because of the ridiculous high expenses with launching rockets from Earth instead of launching them from orbit above Earth.

Technologically speaking, NASA and government regulation is hampering most efforts to improve the cost-efficiency of space exploration.

There no doubt in my mind that space exploration would be best handled by private enterprises if only government would scale down regulation.

 

[tremendoustie]

I would LOVE a system of voluntary taxation with people able to direct / donate money to agencies / programs of their liking.

Good to hear

I'm sure NASA would be rolling in cash! and agencies like the FCC, BATFE, CPSC, etc. would be scraping to buy a box of paperclips if we did it this way. "Democracy" in action!

Well, it would be freedom actually, not democracy per-se. And I can't see how any of the agencies you listed would survive, unless they were able to successfully morph into consumer protection groups, something like consumer reports or the better business bureau.

Though since you feel that way about it, I'm sure everyone here would be happy to divide your paycheck - you know, if you wanted to return those stolen gains...

-t

But then, that would be my labor taken with no compensation -- I'd have effectively donated my time in order to retrieve money for victims of taxation -- a donation of a magnitude I'm not currently in a position to make. Also, unlike many, I'm fairly junior, so I'm not overpaid relative to the market.

In any case, I don't want to be involved, so I'll be leaving soon. I want to be proud of my work, and to know that I am providing a service that someone truly wants or needs, and is willing to pay for. I've worked in industry too -- and it's night and day. There is at least 10X less wasted time and money in private industry -- and that may be a significant understatement.

 

[tremendoustie]

We have to be realistic. Cutting down NASA is very short-sided. Are we getting a tax cut if NASA is downsized? Of course not... So let's keep it in space exploration, and not let it go to useless slugs, banker mansions, and death drone research.

A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money.

This is all academic, really. It assumes America is repairable, which it isn't. It's just a matter of time now...

That's a good point. I think peaceful state independence/secession is a more likely way out than reform at the federal level.

 

[Matt Collins]

YouTube - Porker of The Month (June 2010): Sen. Richard Shelby, Who Made Pigs Fly in Outer Space!

 

[Zippyjuan]

One of the difficultes in trying to cut government spending is that one person's wasteful program is another person's important one. Legislators don't want to offend any potential voters so they don't cut any of them.

 

[Inflation]

America owns the Moon and keeps it safe from Communism.

I support some limited type of government space program at this point because I think it falls under national defense. Like it or not, there will be weapons in space shortly, if they're not there already. So, I have no problem with NASA or another program that seeks to keep our window into space open by keeping up with other countries.

I also think there will be a role for the military in space one day. Someone needs to ensure that private spaceships aren't robbed or attacked if there are other countries up there. Granted, this isn't the case today, but I think it isn't too far off in the future. I see it as being similar to the US Navy, which provides presence to deter other countries from going after our ships and occasionally attacks pirates, so that private business can conduct business at sea. Space, to me, is just a much vaster and stranger version of the ocean.

This is all true.

The military role in space was obvious after Sputnik. Satellites and ICBMs travel through space. We need to be there to provide for national defense.

But nothing short of the immediate abolition of all States on the planet, and spontaneous creation of space-faring anarcho-syndicalist communes will satisfy the Black Flaggers.

Sucks to be them. Long live the Lunar-Industrial Complex!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

This is all true.

The military role in space was obvious after Sputnik. Satellites and ICBMs travel through space. We need to be there to provide for national defense.

But nothing short of the immediate abolition of all States on the planet, and spontaneous creation of space-faring anarcho-syndicalist communes will satisfy the Black Flaggers.

Sucks to be them. Long live the Lunar-Industrial Complex!

I hope you're satirizing neocons...otherwise you're pretty creepy.

 

[Inflation]

Hooray for Everything!!!

I hope you're satirizing neocons...otherwise you're pretty creepy.

Which of the following facts do you not believe, or wish to dispute?

A. The military role in space was obvious after Sputnik.

B. Satellites and ICBMs travel through space.

C. We need to be in space, to provide for national defense.

The tongue in cheek bits were there to satirize anarchists, because they reject the Constitutional duty of the US Fed Gov to protect us from foreign aggression.

At this point, there is a natural government monopoly in moon travel, due to high entry barriers (physical and legal), etc.

The idea that a bunch of nihilistic black flaggers could ever go to the moon is what I was making fun of.