Reply #28: The point of the space program is not to go anywhere in particular, or

[mbperrin]

to "conquer" space. It is to solve the problems associated with doing that, and the space program is the father and mother of all that inhabitants of the USA value today.

Like cell phones? No space program, no satellites, no micro technology. Like the Internet? No DARPA, no Internet. Like all of the various medical and scanning technologies? No space program, none of that. Like superinsulation and sustainable living? No space program, none of that. Like solar energy? No space program, none of that.

The moment we decided to militarize space, which is what the current administration is doing, we lose all the innovation for the public, as everything becomes shrouded in the "fog" of the Pentagon. Giving up on space means surrendering the lead on technology, and that means the death of our particular civilization, far from perfect, but when dead, further than ever from improvement. We spent pennies on space in return for TRILLIONS in benefits.

But I suppose killing wedding parties in Afghanistan and looting museums in Iraq, granting trillions to crooked bankers and international corporations are all higher priorities than the actual improvement of life for our citizens. Certainly has been that way for a while now and accelerating.

At least I'm old enough that I won't have to see the end, because I have not and will not consent to the means that gets us there.