Huntsville space community form task force to fight NASA change (Obama cancellation challenged!)

al.com ^ | February 12, 2010 | Shelby G. Spires

[chimera]

WRT space exploration/development, there is no reason why both can't be involved. The government when it is deemed in the national interest to do so, likewise private industry.

The current business model in vogue in this country is greatly risk-averse and inclined towards short-term profits, so I am doubtful that they will get involved in this work in a big way anytime soon. OTOH, there are reasonable arguments that it is in our national interest to maintain some level of public support, but, as I said, reasonable people can agree or not on those points.

[massgopguy]

Necessity is the mother of invention. After Sputnik scared the bleep out of us, NASA became a necessity for The Common Defense. The Space Program has given us collateral benefits from Velcro to the Pace Maker.

[NormsRevenge]

LOL What hole did you crawl out of? better yet, how old are you?

Nasa may have lost its way but in its day

it did more to inspire a generation than you could possibly ever appreciate.

that it pisses money away on climate research is not the agency’s fault.

I’d prefer they build killer satellites and such too.. but.. we don’t want a space war, do we?

[HenpeckedCon]

FReepers call for increases in Govt. spending all the time. Ever heard of Defense Spending?

[green iguana]

Dude - it was a joke.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"I have never read such a liberal argument posted on FR."

Oh cry me a river.

Big liberal argument here too?....

"Our progress in space, taking giant steps for all mankind, is a tribute to American teamwork and excellence. Our finest minds in government, industry and academia have all pulled together. And we can be proud to say: We are first; we are the best; and we are so because we're free.

America has always been greatest when we dared to be great. We can reach for greatness again. We can follow our dreams to distant stars, living and working in space for peaceful, economic, and scientific gain. Tonight, I am directing NASA to develop a permanently manned space station and to do it within a decade. " "

You know who said that...

RONALD WILSON REAGAN

Talking to space shuttle astronauts from mission control

Reagan also supported building the space station. gasp! Big liberal that he was! LOL

There's that flaming liberal NASA supporter again!

Ronald Reagan KNEW NASA human spaceflight was critical for our nation.

[awake-n-angry]

I concede. The free market system does not adance the best interests of our nation in many instances. In this case, you argue that Government is the solution and not the problem.

You have just made the very argumet that Obama will make when he wants bucks for Green Energy and High Speed Rail and etc., etc., etc.

[hennie pennie]

Did the end of this program create massive layoffs at UA-Huntsville? Did this program have any interchange with the university Department of Biology where there were 3 murders and 3 wounded in a faculty meeting today????

[Names Ash Housewares]

"I concede. The free market system does not adance the best interests of our nation in many instances. In this case, you argue that Government is the solution and not the problem. You have just made the very argumet that Obama will make when he wants bucks for Green Energy and High Speed Rail and etc., etc., etc."

The HELL I have and you know it! Shame on you. Your an absolutist. Reagan would never have agreed with you. Perhaps the greatest effective conservative that ever lived championed NASA. And you should too! for it is critical for our nation. The nations that lead on the frontiers dictate the course of human history.

Reagan knew this.

[Names Ash Housewares]

“Canceling a Return to the Moon is a Liberal, Not a Conservative Act”

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2648671/is_obamas_space_policy_conservative_pg3.html?cat=9

[alancarp]

In the interest of credibility and accuracy: that name is Rep. Parker Griffith. I had a brain cramp.

[awake-n-angry]

I give. We’ll abandon my idea where rugged individualists develop innovative ideas, convince the market and investors to support them, resulting in the development of new technologies and knowledge.

We’ll go with your socialization of research, because after all gov’t knows best. Congressional committees and earmarks should be the spark that takes us into the future.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Oh please enough with the drama queen stuff.
Nobody is abandoning conservative principals because we support NASA human spaceflight for crying out loud.

Your talking to someone who contributed to he X-Prize foundation.

Did you?

[chimera]

For the last time, it doesn't have to be an either/or thing. Don't you understand that? There is no reason why private companies can't be involved in space. Likewise, if it is in national interest, there is no reason why a logical case for government-sponosred work to go forward could not be made.

To be honest, it is a minor expenditure in the overall picture compared to other things we spend government money for. Did you know that less than one-half of one cent of every dollar spent by the feds is used for NASA funding? Spending for just one federal social program, aid to families and children, one of a bloated panoply of "social programs" (i.e., welfare), in FY2010 would pay for the entire US space program for the next five years at the FY2010 budget request. That one federal program would have paid for the Project Apollo program of the 1960s four times over. And for what? It is for paying people to do no work, paying people for doing nothing more than making babies. At least the NASA people show up for work and produce something useful for the nation.

[ari-freedom]

“I never thought I’d see the day the Freepers were banding together to call for government spending. Can anyone tell me where taxing citizens for space research is cited in the Constitution?”

the Constitution gives congress the power to “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts”
That’s why we’re for space research, DARPA and lots of other science funding. However, it is wrong for it to be used as another makework or welfare program.

[awake-n-angry]

“the Constitution gives congress the power to “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts”
That’s why we’re for space research, DARPA and lots of other science funding. However, it is wrong for it to be used as another makework or welfare program.”
_______________________

Whoa there a-f!

The complete phrase in the US COnstitution is, “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;”.

This is not a power to raise taxes to be distributed for research. This directs Congress to protect private sector innovators by alloowing for patent and trademark. This is a key conservative principle. Private sector leads and the gov’t stays out of the way!