Paul F. Dietz ) wrote:
: Fred J. McCall wrote:

: :What I don't understand is why anyone who is not feeding at this
: :trough (do you resemble that remark, Scott?) would support this plan.
: :It accomplishes very little at enormous cost. It doesn't solve the
: :important problem preventing exploitation of space.
:
: Some of us think that ANY new activity that will get more people
: interested is a good thing, Paul. After all, why does my (and I
: presume your) generation have so many people that got interested in
: science and engineering?

: It wasn't because of NASA; don't confuse correlation with causation.
: Technical people would have naturally be interested in what NASA
: was doing. I knew from the beginning (having a father in the
: military side of the aerospace industry) that this was not
: a place I wanted to work. I have never regretted that decision.

: I consider you attitude there to be unfortunate, actually. Luring
: innocent youth into dysfunctional careers does them, and us, a
: disservice. I know individuals with recent aerospace BAs that
: found those degrees worthless.

Worthless? Can't even get jobs as programmers?

: It was only flags and footprints in the final analysis (although it
: certainly could have been more), but even that got a lot of people
: interested. Going back to the Moon (hopefully to stay this time) and
: going to Mars are worth doing.

: Sorry, but 'getting people interested' is not worth much. How
: about getting them interested in something that's actually worthwhile?

And what is that?!

: My daughters are more interested in bio sci/tech/med oriented careers
: than hard physical engineering. Given the rate at which knowledge
: is advancing there, I think they're on the right track.

Good for them, but that doesn't mean that the physical sciences are
inferior.

: :The reason we don't support this is that we've thought it through,
: :and concluded there's little here worthy of support. It's as simple
: :as that.
:
: In other words, Scott seems to be pretty much right. It's not the
: plan you want, so you're Mr Sour Grapes....

: Mr. Smug Realism, actually. I have no regrets, and there is a small
: satisfaction in seeing one's assessment confirmed. I suspect those
: that aimed their careers down this black hole have rather more
: acid in their tummies at this point.

Totally false! I can tell you that the unmanned sector of NASA is
thriving.

Do you honestly in private cheer when NASA experiences a disaster?
Do you really hate your father that much?

Your comment about assessment and satisfaction with failure has me asking
these questions. Perhaps your kids should go more into the mental side of
medicine and help their father?!

Eric

: Paul