Sending the Politicians to Orbit

Craig Fink wrote:
[...]
I would think you would have to catch the bugger before he takes office
the first time (just after his election) and develops political alliances

uhhh, you think they got elected *without* having developed political
alliances? It may already be too late by the time they file as
candidates!

/dps

(Henry Spencer) writes:

However, despite a certain amount of hype, astronaut attitudes generally
don't change a lot after flight. There are a few examples of guys who
were really shaken up by it... but by and large, when you look at the
details, those were guys who clearly had a shaking up coming anyway. It's
an impressive, moving experience, but it doesn't make big changes.

If spaceflight has any effect, it's to strengthen the way people already
are. If that means shaky and unstable, they get more shaky and unstable
and end up going through upheavals. But Pete Conrad and Neil Armstrong
just got even more strongly Pete Conrad and Neil Armstrong.

About the ones who got shaken up... maybe it wasn't spaceflight per se
that shook them up.

Maybe it was _retirement_.

pgf
--
Phil Fraering
Warning: I am very behind on usenet; if you really want me to
see a message, cc: me a copy. - pgf

Craig Fink wrote in message ...
The Russian News conference with the returning Soyuz crew has just
finished. I found some of the comments by Yuri Shargin interesting
on his impressions during his short trip into space.

Essentially, that the earth is a very small place,

A quite nice little village.

But I refuse to call that Earth is merely a dot in the universe if it
it's in order to demean Earth and its inhabitants (no matter what ever
or who ever they are).

and how thin the atmosphere is, that makes life possible on the Earth.

And how does those atmosphere got here in the first place?

How does all of Earth's water got here in the first place?

How does we got here in the first place?

That many of the problems on Earth seemed much more insignificant,

Are there any big problems at all at Earth? Everyone knows that there
are no big problems at all at Earth.

and how important it is to take care of the Earth for the future.

The Earth would be still be here even if we are gone, what is best is
for use to use the Earth as best as possible while we are here.

He thinks that politicians should take a trip into space.

I hope it isn't intended to torture them. The trips to orbits are very
difficult, both on the mental and the body.

Of course, a short trip using SpaceShip One would be fine.


How common are his thoughts about Earth after being viewed from orbit?
I would think they are quite common.

Either that, or it's just propaganda.

The best comments probably could be get when they're up there, live, a
spontaneous outburst.

Since once they're back home or at the station, they're forced to say
everything that the public relations (Ministry of Truth) want.

I also wonder how the experience has affected the lives of astronauts
and cosmonauts in the years after having such an experience.

Well... Armstrong sure have been relatively been quiet since his last
trip. On the other hand, Aldrin have been buzzing around a lot.

So... It's just up to the person itself.


But I suggest that every human citizen on Earth to go outside Earth,
see the surrounding, socialize with the locals, and go back here. The
best way of being a patriot is to travel to other places, that way one
can better appreciate their own home.


Sending politicians into space for an attitude adjustment before they
begin there term in elected office sounds like a good idea to me.

Heh, you probably also want them to serve in the Federal Service and
have them being dropped from orbit during a war they participate first
before they serve in the office.

It should be noted that puppets are puppets, no matter where they are.

You can't do an 'attitude adjustment' toward puppets.

It could be one of the best investments that taxpayers could make.

How could they done that when they even don't have the control in the
first place?

Any thoughts?

Craig Fink
Badnarik for President

Henry Spencer ) wrote:
: In article ,
: Craig Fink wrote:
: So we do have a non-zero sample size and it is not encouraging.
:
: The sample size of astronauts and cosmonauts is much larger and therefore
: statistically significant in determining changes in attitude.

: However, despite a certain amount of hype, astronaut attitudes generally
: don't change a lot after flight. There are a few examples of guys who
: were really shaken up by it... but by and large, when you look at the
: details, those were guys who clearly had a shaking up coming anyway. It's
: an impressive, moving experience, but it doesn't make big changes.

That's not what a shuttle mission specialist told us in a post shuttle
mission presentation. She is an earth scientist and no doubt very
pro-environment. All hype aside she claimed that even the most hardened
miltary types get a new appreciation for our home planet once in space.

: If spaceflight has any effect, it's to strengthen the way people already
: are. If that means shaky and unstable, they get more shaky and unstable
: and end up going through upheavals. But Pete Conrad and Neil Armstrong
: just got even more strongly Pete Conrad and Neil Armstrong.

Sounds like the outcome of the LSD experiments in CA in the 60s.

Eric

: --
: "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend." | Henry Spencer
: -- George Herbert |