We should probably stop spending money on technological advancement and start putting that towards something more useful, like another entitlement program.
The people handling these issues lived their whole lives solving problems by throwing money at them. It's all they know how to do. When their lives revolve around everything being solved by money, it becomes both the problem and solution every time.
Why not exercise greater restraint from being wasteful and invest in more renewable forms of energy for instance. Could we not invest more in recycling that really works. I was heavily involved in the 2011 tornado cleanup across Alabama and was disappointed by the waste of trees, in that they were not being used for anything, especially the hardwoods. We weren't prepared, obviously, but why not? The production of better forms of energy is largely limited by our lack of supporting infrastructure such as charging stations for CNG operated vehicles. Why not invest there and we wouldn't have to go to Mars looking for what is available here already. We would also be able to stop fighting over OPEC's oil supplies. Are you sure removing the natural resources from Mars and bringing them back here is going to be cost effective? That sounds a bit unlikely to me.
We have all the power sources we need right here in America, we are just hand cuffed by the ignorant about harnessing it. Burning food(ie corn) to power cars when we untold decades of natural gas readily available is just plain foolish. Electric cars are a joke, the batteries alone will end up causing more environmental damage in the long run than conventional combustible engines ever will. And in the south where it seldom gets below freezing you might be able to use one year around, but here where snow is measured in feet and below zero temps raise no eye brows they are pointless. Your point of restraint is a good one, it is not the governments place to "invest" in commercial Enterprise, that what a free market economy runs on, a demand will generate an investment. The government does not help us, it hinders the very thing that makes America great and that is the American entrepreneur.
Are we getting back to this... Is the New King George... today's Washington? Spend and tax at will... The colonies suffered 27 abuses at the hands of the King George III. Each of the abuses directed at the colonies for the purpose of establishing a tyrannical government in North America. Jefferson claimed that the colonists had patiently suffered these abuses and that it is now time to expose these abuses to the nations of the world. The first 12 abuses involved King George III's establishment of a tyrannical authority in place of representative government. The foundation of representative government is the power of the people to make laws for the public good. King George III interfered with that process by rejecting legislation proposed by the colonies, dissolving colonial bodies of representation, replacing colonial governments with his appointed ministers, and interfering with the naturalization of citizens in new regions. King George III extended his tyrannical control by interfering with the objective judicial processes and the civil rights of the colonists. King George III prevented the establishment of judicial powers in the colonies and made judges dependent on him for their jobs and salaries. King George III further established tyrannical control by maintaining a strong military presence under his direct command. The King is a tyrant, because he keeps standing armies in the colonies during a time of peace, makes the military power superior to the civil government, and forces the colonists to support the military presence through increased taxes. Abuses 13 through 22 describe the involvement of parliament in destroying the colonists' right to self-rule. The king has "combined with others" to subject the colonists to legislation passed without colonial input or consent. Legislation has been passed to quarter troops in the colonies, to shut off trade with other parts of the world, to levy taxes without the consent of colonial legislatures, to take away the right to trial by jury, and to force colonists to be tried in England. Additionally, legislation has established absolute rule in a nearby area, taken away the authority of colonial governments, and forbidden further legislation by colonial governments. The last 5 abuses, 23 through 27, refer to specific actions that the King of Great Britain took to abandon the colonies and to wage war against them. The King has attempted to suppress the colonial rebellion through violence and military means. He sent the British military to attack colonists, burn their towns, attack their ships at sea, and destroy the lives of the people. He hired foreign mercenaries to fight against the colonies. He kidnapped American sailors to force them into British military service, refused to protect the colonies from Native American attack, and has caused colonists to fight against each other.
The single most important role government has is to protect the general population of America. In the land of the free we are longer "free" we are "guided" down the path big government has chosen for by way of levies, taxes and regulations all of which infringe on our individual freedoms. Examples of this are easily seen when you look at the make up of the supreme court, justices are now picked solely on race, color and gender every thing that we vocally decry as wrong. The government needs "we the people" more than "we the people" need them.
What was poverty rate before social security in America? NASA has had nothing but positive for us. It's also about national pride also. I have great pride in what NASA does.
Me too. It's things like NASA and military R&D that sets our country apart from the rest of the world.
Okay... but didn't we used to actually build the stuff? Have we become too reliant on other countries? Will Mars kick start a new technology boom? Will we create enough interest in Science/Math to regain the top spot? Lots of unanswered questions.
