March 11, 2004
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The Essay: Moonstruck
Is poetic license enough of a reason to explore the empty frontier of outer space?
(My comments below were inspired by the above article from the Village Voice)
You know, I’m of several opinions on the subject of space exploration. I would really like to go into space within my lifetime (although I doubt it will happen), but I feel that 1) in the case of Bush it’s an attempt to distract from current politics and stupidity, and 2) that there are better things that we could be spending the money on… like food and shelter, medical aid and social reform. On the other hand, the idea of going into space is so inspiring that it would be good for the morale of the American people. On the other, other hand, do the American people really need more morale? We’re a pretty arrogant lot already.
I really think the money to go into space would be better spent elsewhere. We should be working to better ourselves socially before we go infecting the universe with our immature squabbling and greed. I’ve been thinking that people should be able to say how their taxes are spent. Perhaps this is a platform I can one day run on if I run for president (if I don’t throw my hands up in the air and leave the country in digust before I’m old enough to run).
We should be able to opt for how much of our taxes are spent on military programs, or education, or social programs, or space exploration, etc. The conservatives could spend all theirs on military, and the liberals could put all theirs on social reform and everyone in between could divvy their taxes up to go to whatever programs they like. Then if it was calculated by the amount people opted to place in the space program that people really did want to go into space, we could dedicate more time to that endeavor.
But wouldn’t it be horrible if we finally got out into space and no one wanted to hang out with us because they thought we were a pack of unrefined, immature hooligans?
We need to change things, not get distracted by giant tax-funded Roman Candles. Unless there’s a huge meteor heading right for the Earth that I should know about, I really think we can wait on the space programs in favor of improving the quality of life for all people, not just a few in a higher tax bracket.
Comments (12)
According to my dad (who is a well-practiced doom-sayer…okay?…but who is also combing the web, all the time, for the “real” news…), there is an astroid headed to Earth. It should arrive some time in 2012 (yeah, that other year for all unfulfilled prophecies…*sigh*).
My dad would agree, though, (as do I) with all of your statements.
And I am afraid our appearance among a Federation of Planets-type committee would not even be tolerated. We would be in permanent time-out for daring to think everyone owes us something… Give us your knowledge…your weaponry…your gold!!
Or something like that. *sigh*
And, if we have to send our (American) President, to represent us…*groan*…don’t tell me! Or tell me…so I have time to become a citizen of Canada.
Thank goodness, some of us are seeking to make ourselves a better species. Still, I am glad any kind of formal contact with other (more) intelligent races is still some time off, in the way-distant future. We need time to grow up.
Peace and Love…GFW
Hmmm…… Alot of this would depend on your economic Philosophy. but politics aside Look at all the Great things we have because of our last adventures in to space ( by this I mean The Apollo and mercury programs) point being all research cost something and inorder to fund somthings you have to deprive something else of funds. not everyone can win all the time i suppose
well, since we most likely never went to the moon in the first place, the money was really wasted.
Can humanity ever true overcome our inherent ignorance/evil side???? Most people surrcy back into the cave of illusion when they get a mere glimise at the sun of truth. Besides i heard that we are all going to die by 2020 if we dont curve this pop explosion (cause by our agriculture practices, peter farbs paradox 4 detail)
we walked out of the garden of eden eating the fruit of the gods, out of the hands of the gods and now we pay for it.
the short one
you are good at reading between the lines…*****
a five star comment…and you have a fish! i need him for a post I had a while back….great…..
the space program…well interestingly enougth I have a huge reason to believe that there is a subconscious
motivation for it that defies the apparent stupidity
of the extravant expendatures…but its a longgg story
I will post a blog soon to explain….did I mention
YOU ARE FUN!
Yeah!
[to everything.]
:dance:
Hey thanks for the invite to write for the newsletter. I’m really honoured. Although I don’t think I could as I don’t actually know much about paganism. I tend to write straight from the emotional side of things, rather than from the real.
/agreed
Your economic policy might not work, but I agree with you on the space travel thing. I mean, space travel has all sorts of scientific benefits (as well as being really freaking cool), but there really isn’t a pressing need to get up there.
Have you listened much to soundgarden?
:Seeall: I am for space exploration-What if Columbus didn’t make his trip?- How long before we finally figured out that the earth was round? Being liberal, I am for humanitarian pursuits. OK so, should we send dolphins into space as our reps?
HGDKs, hmmm, great things we have because we went into space… pens that will write in space or underwater while the Russians used pencils? heh (I’m mean. I know. lol)
ShortyMac…. only if we make an effort to overcome our base instincts can we hope to survive and prosper.
Dosmangoes… I wasn’t talking about the stupidity of the space program. I was making reference to the stupidity of our government, particularly our current feckless and insincere leader.
All Permeating Emptiness, I’ve listened to some Soundgarden, and I like what I’ve heard, but I don’t own any of their CDs. I only own about 2 dozen CDs, and half of them were gifts. I’m too terribly frugal for my own good.
Kat, lol, I don’t think the dolphins would be a good idea. I don’t think they’d have many nice things to say about us.
:Cthulhu:thatd be totally boss if lovecraft had risen:Ghost:…. gah.. what bookstore do u work at?
hhmmm.. space exploration :Abduct:
i love the smiley dudes.. :Schizo:
:Butterfly:Oh, I love your blinkies! It is hard to choose and I want to use them just ’cause they’re cute:Dragonfly:
I totally agree with this post and I am glad that you said positive things about space exploration too. I love the images and information we are receiving from Hubble~and they want to scrap that! I grew up hearing about the “dream” of Hubble and what it could show us and then it became a reality and has turned out amazing fotos! But, everything you said about money better spent, energy better spent…yes. And, about who we are as a species; and the growing up we need to do before we enter the universal community!:YinYang:Thanks for another sane and intelligent post:Owl:~Peace and Blessings