Except that many scientists are pissed, because manned missions are much more complicated, dangerous, and expensive than robotic expeditions. And without clear goals (other than "Because it's there") there's no compelling scientific reason to go there.
The cynic's reason Bush is doing this? To get the sci/tech geek vote (traditionally democratic, because they're usually more willing to spend money), and because there might be resources there, and his friends at Halliburton could make a lot of money harvesting them.
Personally, while I'm a huge advocate for eventually going to the stars, I'm a lot more interested in trying to fix this planet first.
I just think that we could benefit from having a presence in space as opposed to the sort of vaguely interested in space thing we have right now.
I'm definately interested in trying to fix the planet we have. I just don't see that happening without some seriously significant changes in the predominant social paradigms on the planet.
It is one of those things that seems to plague us as humans. It is extremely difficult to have great ideas that enough people will support to give you the power to enact the change.
In literature it is easy to spot for hundreds of years that the people on the outside, marginalized, want in to have the things that the people there have... so they can change the world for those who are marginalized. Once you're accepted, you only do so much change, though, or you'll find yourself marginalized again.
We need a new powerful idea. The world seems to be lacking in them, to me.
Absolutely right. Bush doesn't give a rat's ass about space exploration. He wants to make sure that he - and most importantly not the other guy - gets the campaign contributions from the young male Silicon Valley millionaires. That's all this is about.
Anyone who believes Bush really cares about space exploration is naive.
I like space too. I want a colony on the moon and a mission to Mars.
But it's important that we keep reminding people that Bush is doing this for political reasons, not because he believes in it; that he'll drop it in a second if it gets troublesome; and that nobody should give him a cent because of this.
I find that some of the songs are really great but for the most part, the album isn't really all that stellar. I enjoyed it but, for the most part, I was expecting more. Over all I would agree with that but there are two songs that I felt lived up to expectations.
Really. The songs, frankly, bore me. I haven't listened to the album, but have heard the "I am the highway" song 3,278 times. It's just droning on and on. Both Rage and Soundgarden were much, much better.
*sighs* Well, Bush is doing it for the voters who think space is a good idea and polls show that the country is pretty evenly divided on who thinks space is a good idea and those who don't.
Like politicians aren't all self-serving? Bush stated that he wanted to go to Mars. It's an even split as to whether or not people think it's a good idea. Dean, et. al said "it's a waste of money" for pretty much the sole reason of not having the same stand as Bush.
Maybe Bush really doesn't want to go to Mars. Maybe one of the Democrats does. Since the massive polarization of the parties occurred during the Clinton Era (where Republicans were antagonistic against Democrats and vice versa), since the Florida election debacle (that entire presidental election was pretty fishy on both sides), and no with the presidential reace this year, it's just going to get worse & worse.
And then we get statements like "I'm not going to vote for 'x party / president' no matter what they say or who the opposition is" coming from normally reasonable people.
This year's election is going to polarize a lot of relationships over something as stupid as politics. I think I'm going to reinstate my parents' longstanding rule of "no politics at the dinner table" but extend it specifically to social gatherings - "no politics at the party"
I had gotten the impression that his getting elected to the head of the Nazi party took some doing and some skill from him but I will bow to your knowledge here. I'm probably wrong.
Not only that but he was promising the Germans what they wanted. They'd suffered heavily since the end of WWI and he promised them an alleviation to it. He promised them jobs and money... When almost everyone is below the poverty line, anyone promising change looks good.
I'll have to double check on Hitler's election to the head fo the Nazi party thing. IIRC though, it took some time but not a lot of effort / maneuvering.
One of these days I want to read Mien Kampf. Just because. I like that whole understanding thing. At the moment, though, I'm a little stuck in 15th century France.
Between Thomas Covenant novels, I'm reading "Delivered From Evil" - it's a great WW2 overview which includes info about each of the major players (like Mussolini, Churchill, Hitler, etc.)
Bush lost any chance he had at my vote over a year ago. He's made a lot of policy decisions I don't like and I would rather not see continued. While I don't know if I'll vote for the Democratic option, though it seems likely, I know I won't be voting for him.
Maybe if Nader runs again I'll vote for him.
Don't know yet. I really like Carol Moesly-Braun and Dennis Kucinich... I'm just not going to get a chance to vote for them. If my choice were Bush or Lieberman or Clark... I don't know who I'd vote for at that point.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:15 pm (UTC)The cynic's reason Bush is doing this? To get the sci/tech geek vote (traditionally democratic, because they're usually more willing to spend money), and because there might be resources there, and his friends at Halliburton could make a lot of money harvesting them.
Personally, while I'm a huge advocate for eventually going to the stars, I'm a lot more interested in trying to fix this planet first.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:22 pm (UTC)I'm definately interested in trying to fix the planet we have. I just don't see that happening without some seriously significant changes in the predominant social paradigms on the planet.
It is one of those things that seems to plague us as humans. It is extremely difficult to have great ideas that enough people will support to give you the power to enact the change.
In literature it is easy to spot for hundreds of years that the people on the outside, marginalized, want in to have the things that the people there have... so they can change the world for those who are marginalized. Once you're accepted, you only do so much change, though, or you'll find yourself marginalized again.
We need a new powerful idea. The world seems to be lacking in them, to me.
Sorry... Rambling a bit there.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:30 pm (UTC)Anyone who believes Bush really cares about space exploration is naive.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:41 pm (UTC)But it's important that we keep reminding people that Bush is doing this for political reasons, not because he believes in it; that he'll drop it in a second if it gets troublesome; and that nobody should give him a cent because of this.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:50 pm (UTC)That's nice.
We'll just have to go back to music and bicker some. Or not. You know. Whatever.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 07:06 pm (UTC)I find that some of the songs are really great but for the most part, the album isn't really all that stellar. I enjoyed it but, for the most part, I was expecting more. Over all I would agree with that but there are two songs that I felt lived up to expectations.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 08:47 pm (UTC)There are decent songs on the album but they don't seem to get airplay. Over all it wasn't what I thought it could be but there were bright spots.
I'd agree that Rage and Soundgarden were better. I'm not sure if Chris was better on his own, though.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 07:03 pm (UTC)If the program comes at the expense of all social spending, that would be an easy way of causing people to lose all interest in it.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 09:03 pm (UTC)There are better things we could spend that $1 billion on, maybe. There are 87 times more better things we could spend the Iraq budget on.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 09:26 pm (UTC)Also, like hell that war wasn't discretionary spending.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-14 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 12:53 am (UTC)*closes mouth*
nevermind.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 04:43 pm (UTC)Bush stated that he wanted to go to Mars. It's an even split as to whether or not people think it's a good idea. Dean, et. al said "it's a waste of money" for pretty much the sole reason of not having the same stand as Bush.
Maybe Bush really doesn't want to go to Mars.
Maybe one of the Democrats does.
Since the massive polarization of the parties occurred during the Clinton Era (where Republicans were antagonistic against Democrats and vice versa), since the Florida election debacle (that entire presidental election was pretty fishy on both sides), and no with the presidential reace this year, it's just going to get worse & worse.
And then we get statements like "I'm not going to vote for 'x party / president' no matter what they say or who the opposition is" coming from normally reasonable people.
This year's election is going to polarize a lot of relationships over something as stupid as politics. I think I'm going to reinstate my parents' longstanding rule of "no politics at the dinner table" but extend it specifically to social gatherings - "no politics at the party"
I'm just sick of all of it.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 04:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:03 pm (UTC)The Nazis acted a lot like the mob did back in the day - eliminating opposition the "easy way", by killing it.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:07 pm (UTC)Not only that but he was promising the Germans what they wanted. They'd suffered heavily since the end of WWI and he promised them an alleviation to it. He promised them jobs and money... When almost everyone is below the poverty line, anyone promising change looks good.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:10 pm (UTC)Ya wanna know who Hitler's hero was? Mussolini.
It was an odd time in history.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:15 pm (UTC)One of these days I want to read Mien Kampf. Just because. I like that whole understanding thing. At the moment, though, I'm a little stuck in 15th century France.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:23 pm (UTC)And I'd like to mention, again, that Charles VII of France is an unmitigated wuss.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:26 pm (UTC)http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060915358/qid=1074187540//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/002-4338615-1038437?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Look at the page count dearie.
I might be done with it in a year or 2.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:45 pm (UTC)Maybe I'll buy it for myself. I have a gift certificate I have yet to use.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:52 pm (UTC)I need more books on Joan. More, I tell you!
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:53 pm (UTC)Francophile.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:59 pm (UTC)Indeed.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 04:53 pm (UTC)Politics is a very frustrating thing right now.
Bush lost any chance he had at my vote over a year ago. He's made a lot of policy decisions I don't like and I would rather not see continued. While I don't know if I'll vote for the Democratic option, though it seems likely, I know I won't be voting for him.
Maybe if Nader runs again I'll vote for him.
Don't know yet. I really like Carol Moesly-Braun and Dennis Kucinich... I'm just not going to get a chance to vote for them. If my choice were Bush or Lieberman or Clark... I don't know who I'd vote for at that point.
It just all sucks.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-15 05:03 pm (UTC)For about two years or so I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He could have won my vote. He didn't.