Thread: Organics found on Mars!

Originally Posted by honedright

So are you saying that my suggestion that we prioritize spending means that somehow we should just do nothing at all? I don't see how that comment makes any sense. Or were you intentionally asserting a fallacy to discredit my previous post?

I am not Bruno but I think he was trying to point out just what you said.. Prioritized spending. This would mean increasing the NASA budget not cutting it off completely. Science and space exploration are what create discovery in this world you take away discovery and we live in the Stone Age. Not to mention it is better for the economy than defense spending or bank bailouts.

NASA currently gets .5 cents from one tax dollar that is for every tax dollar NASA receives one half of a cent. Is that a lot? I honestly thing we could afford 1 full cent but that is just me.

Originally Posted by Endofab

I am not Bruno but I think he was trying to point out just what you said.. Prioritized spending. This would mean increasing the NASA budget not cutting it off completely. Science and space exploration are what create discovery in this world you take away discovery and we live in the Stone Age. Not to mention it is better for the economy than defense spending or bank bailouts.

NASA currently gets .5 cents from one tax dollar that is for every tax dollar NASA receives one half of a cent. Is that a lot? I honestly thing we could afford 1 full cent but that is just me.

Is that what you got from his statement? I'd call that extrapolating, but good on'yas anyways.

So you think poking around on mars might result in a sort of gold rush? The next economic boom? Also, how did you derive that NASA spending is better for the economy than defense spending? Doesn't defense spending create jobs as well?

Originally Posted by honedright

Is that what you got from his statement? I'd call that extrapolating, but good on'yas anyways.

Then please explain how your $8 would be better spent? Taking I to account all the other govt. spending..

Originally Posted by Endofab

Then please explain how your $8 would be better spent? Taking I to account all the other govt. spending..

All the other gov't spending is really the point, isn't it?

Originally Posted by honedright

All the other gov't spending is really the point, isn't it?

I don't know is it? Your comment gives the impression that you think an already underfunded program is wasting money.

Originally Posted by honedright

So are you saying that my suggestion that we prioritize spending means that somehow we should just do nothing at all? I don't see how that comment makes any sense. Or were you intentionally asserting a fallacy to discredit my previous post?

Your argument was that it was a waste because there are hungry people.
By that logic we shouldn't do anything as long as there are hungry people, except feeding the hungry.

Scientific progress always pays off in the long run. And given the teeny amount of money allocated to nasa, there is no reason to play the 'hungry people' card over anything nasa does. DOD spending is orders of magnitude bigger.

Instead of complaining about the 8$ for nasa, why don't you complain about the 100s of $ of your money that was spent on the war in Iraq? You are complaining about cents and ignoring the dollars.

Originally Posted by Endofab

I don't know is it? Your comment gives the impression that you think an already underfunded program is wasting money.

True. Is it a good idea to speculate on future ROI when you are in debt? I'd rather use my funds to pay my debts off and set my house in order before investing. It seems to me that governments make lousy stewards of other peoples money.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Your argument was that it was a waste because there are hungry people.
By that logic we shouldn't do anything as long as there are hungry people, except feeding the hungry.

Scientific progress always pays off in the long run. And given the teeny amount of money allocated to nasa, there is no reason to play the 'hungry people' card over anything nasa does. DOD spending is orders of magnitude bigger.

Instead of complaining about the 8$ for nasa, why don't you complain about the 100s of $ of your money that was spent on the war in Iraq? You are complaining about cents and ignoring the dollars.

Since it wasn't your country that was attacked in 2001, I suppose I can understand your indifference about the war in Iraq. As to spending on NASA over caring for the needy, I think you should address that question to the needy. See if they would agree with you.

Originally Posted by honedright

True. Is it a good idea to speculate on future ROI when you are in debt? I'd rather use my funds to pay my debts off and set my house in order before investing. It seems to me that governments make lousy stewards of other peoples money.

We are talking pennies here. You want to pay off the debt but not loose your standing in the world.. There is an asteroid that will come in close orbit to earth sometime in 2037 there is a chance it might collide with earth. Russia has started a program to research this asteroid and also means to deflect it. Russia has in turn invited the U.S. to join them in this research.. We are loosing the world stage of discovery in science. Not a good thing and never will be. The super collider that was to be build in Texas should have been fully funded!! 2.5x more powerful than the large Hadron collider!

Instead of being "Merica" lets be "America!"

Originally Posted by honedright

Since it wasn't your country that was attacked in 2001, I suppose I can understand your indifference about the war in Iraq. As to spending on NASA over caring for the needy, I think you should address that question to the needy. See if they would agree with you.

Think of that for a minute. You have a citizen of another country interested in the development of our NASA program.. No other citizen in other countries will be interested in the development of our military prowess!

Do we want to be known for discovering ways to kill people better?

Food for thought. I think there is a lot of FUD in our nation which causes us to feel we need to spend this. Or it is failed immigration policies or what not.