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Funny. I appreciate the want for more exploring, but the logic he lays out is almost the exact rationale that has slowly eroded NASA from 1.6% to 0.5%. Maybe not all for "think of the children," but after we lost the fear/competition of Russia, space always comes second when you pose the question as "...when we could do X with the money." Why not spend it on something that will fulfill our lower needs as a group (hunger, health, shelter, happiness)?

More annoying, the political defense to try and keep the votes for it makes it all the more silly. It spreads over multiple states and locations to ensure votes, which naturally makes it more diffuse and internally fractured. But you're still arguing with the increasing conservatism of an aging country whose Reps know that voting stability and order gets them back in.

OK. It would also help if they had a goal that wasn't just "stay up." Well projected vision can set fire to a thousand hearts. (cue Superman joke)




I think it is more complicated than that. There are political factors at play. It is not as if every American has a direct voice in the budget. It is less than 50% of what is was but at the same time it is a 0.9% drop so I think we should be careful what conclusions we draw here.




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