Do not forget that the worldwide illegal drugs industry runs at about $500
billions per year.
I have no idea how this, or our other foibles, could be diverted into Space
exploration - but one thing is sure. The idea that money "wasted" on Space
exploration could somehow be diverted into solving Earth's many perceived
problems is a total red herring

If Space expenditures were somehow to be drastically curtailed, the reality
is either that all the money would be dissipated/ spent by Governments on
employing more apparatchiki to boss us all about or the money returned in
taxes ( fat chance!!) would be used to expand human vice and folly, in all
the areas Joel outlines and some new ones to boot!

Even from a cynical perspective the cultural enhancements brought about by
Space exploration are the most reliable benefits to be gained from the
sums expended. At least they do no harm,and are to a degree uplifting. Of
which other largescale expenditures can as much be said?

Humanity has shown over centuries that dissipation and vice are far more
interesting than anything so banal as feeding or medicating the less
fortunate, let alone "caring for the Planet"

Increased space expenditure would , I think, reduce pro rata the sums
available for actually doing harm and further demeaning our species. It
remains the only piece of evidence that this culture can occasionally think
beyond the navel!
Michael Martin-Smith
Cynicism is the Name we give to Experience while Distrust is the Tribute
we pay to Authority
Joel wrote in message
news:MVCAd.43082$Ix2.15284@okepread02...

"Rand Simberg" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:49:46 -0600, in a place far, far away, "Joel"
made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way
as to indicate that:

Greetings,
As we move towards 2005 there has been a certain amount of introspection
regarding the direction of space exploration as we close out the first 5
years of the 21'st century. I hope the US will fulfill its destiny &
that
our exploration program can live up to its full potential (which it is
not
doing now).

One way to achieve this goal is to remove the great distractions that
have
prevented us from having a more successfull plan of space & lunar
exploration . One distraction is alcholism which should call for a new
plan
of prohibition. Another project is to curtail or eliminate the tidal
wave
(or tsunami) of hard core pornography that has flooded our nation. A new
plan of censorship would include stopping the production & distributuion
of
x- rated videos, & porn magazines. Also closing strip clubs, bringing
about
more enforcement against prostitution, & outlawing internet porn.. One
more
project is to eliminate gambling - which diverts tens of billions of
dollars
a year away from Lunar & space exploration.

Because of the Republican victories I now feel empowered to promote this
new
plan as well as an ultra conservative right wing economic agenda - which
includes a renewed space program. Hopefully the new NASA administrator &
all
Americans will try to grasp these new ideals, otherwise we will just
continue on a path of expensive space failures.

Well, now, that was...different.

So all that's been keeping us out of space was booze, porn and
gambling?

Who knew?

Well, when you consider it we spend alot more on all of that then we spend
on space exploration.