nuclear space engine - would it work ??

Herb Schaltegger wrote:

Read beyond the Preamble.

I did. There is nothing in the Constitution authorizing congress to fund
manned space flights.

Bob Kolker

Herb Schaltegger wrote:


Read your Constitutional history and jurisprudence before you make such
absurd statements.

How is congress authorized to fund manned space programs? Do tell us.

Here are the powers of Congress verbetim:

Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties,
imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states,
and with the Indian tribes;

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the
subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix
the standard of weights and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and
current coin of the United States;

To establish post offices and post roads;

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for
limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their
respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas,
and offenses against the law of nations;

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules
concerning captures on land and water;

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use
shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide and maintain a navy;

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval
forces;

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the
union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the
United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of
the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such
District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of
particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of
the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over
all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in
which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals,
dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any
department or officer thereof.

Now find a rocket ship in there.

Bob Kolker

In article LYwXg.11715$2l5.1743@trnddc07,
David Spain wrote:

Herb Schaltegger wrote:
On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:13:24 -0500, Robert Kolker wrote
(in article ):

Going to Mars or Jupiter has no relation to national defense. It should
not
be funded by the government.

That's not the criteria for whether the U.S. government "should"
undertake any activity. Read the Constitution.


So a Mars/Jupiter mission accomplishes?

A more perfect union?
Establishes justice?
Insures domestic tranquility?
Promotes the general welfare?

Possible.


-or-

Secures the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity?

Could happen.

In article ,
Robert Kolker wrote:

Herb Schaltegger wrote:



That's not the criteria for whether the U.S. government "should"
undertake any activity. Read the Constitution.

Look at the powers of Congress in the Constutition. No mention of rocket
ships.

No mention of printing presses, pharmaceutical production, research,
education, aircraft carriers, submarines, artillery, automobiles, ...

The government has no business in the rocketship business except
as a means of defense (under the heading of an army and navy).

The powers extended to the federal government cover a good deal more
than just national defense. And that's not even considering the things
it does that aren't empowered through the Constitution. (Not that I'm
defending those things, mind.)

In article ,
Robert Kolker wrote:

Herb Schaltegger wrote:

Read beyond the Preamble.

I did. There is nothing in the Constitution authorizing congress to fund
manned space flights.

Nor is there anything in there about authorizing congress to fund a
nuclear-powered navy.

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:24:16 -0500, Robert Kolker wrote
(in article ):

Herb Schaltegger wrote:

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:57:01 -0500, Robert Kolker wrote
(in article ):


Herb Schaltegger wrote:


Read your Constitutional history and jurisprudence before you make such
absurd statements.

How is congress authorized to fund manned space programs? Do tell us.

Here are the powers of Congress verbetim:


You misspelled "verbatim."

Picky, picky.

It's called "precision." Look into it.

(snipped blather)

Let me know when you're done.

I am done.

You never even got stated.

But now I am done.

PLONK

--
Herb Schaltegger
"You can run on for a long time . . . sooner or later, God'll cut you
down." - Johnny Cash
http://www.angryherb.net

"Steve Hix" wrote in message
...
Nor is there anything in there about authorizing congress to fund a
nuclear-powered navy.

Actually, a navy *is* mentioned.

"Steve Hix" wrote in message
...

No mention of printing presses, pharmaceutical production, research,
education, aircraft carriers, submarines, artillery, automobiles, ...

Carriers, submarines and artillery are covered under the broad powers over
armies and navies. This includes the air force, which started out under the
army.

Furthermore, the government has no need to operate printing presses, and
both then and now hires out often.

The government does a lot of things that it isn't authorized to do. The
necessary clause *does not mean* that Congress can do anything it wants, it
means that Congress can pass whatever laws are necessary to do those things
it's authorized to do.

A civilian space program is questionable. When I asked this question a while
back, I was accused of bashing NASA.

"OM" wrote in message
...
...****, Scotty - if they can't keep Brad Guth out of here, what makes
you think they'll be any better on Venus?

Because *that* is the one place Guth won't be- first, he'll be on Mars, and
second, that's where the Firewomen are.

Herb Schaltegger wrote:

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:57:01 -0500, Robert Kolker wrote
(in article ):


Herb Schaltegger wrote:


Read your Constitutional history and jurisprudence before you make such
absurd statements.

How is congress authorized to fund manned space programs? Do tell us.

Here are the powers of Congress verbetim:


You misspelled "verbatim."

Picky, picky.

There are eighteen categories of function that congress has. Under none
of them do rocketships fit. Ballistic missiles yes (being the logical
extention of cannon) but not wessels for manned missions to other planets.

I told you to review Constitutional history and jurisprudence not just
quote Constitutional provisions out of context. I see you've not done
so. I suggest you start with Marbury v. Madison and then hit the
Commerce Clause. From there you should move to a review of the
governmental rules clause and finally end up with the "necessary and
proper" clause.

I read the manual. The powers of congress are specified specifically and
nowhere do you find a rocketship. Not once. Congress has not been given
the power under the constitution to fund manned missions to other
planets. The Constitution is defined by its written contents plus the
application of court decisions to particular cases. That is the length
and breadth of the Constitution.


Let me know when you're done.

I am done. From what magic place does congress get the authroity to fund
manned space missions. Please do tell us. It sure ain't the Constitution
so it must be from somewhere else.

Now if you want the Constitution amended to included manned missions to
other planets write your congressman and get the ball rolling on an
amendment.

Bob Kolker