US Officially Out of the Space Program

[KrazyHorse]

Socialist libertarians

[David Floyd]

Is this not clear from what I've said so far in this thread?

No more clear than I thought I was being, about having changed certain viewpoints about federal spending, without coming out and clearly saying so

[KrazyHorse]

First sentence I posted in this thread:

Government spending on the space program (and in fact on all science) is almost completely wasteful.

[David Floyd]

Government spending on the space program (and in fact on all science) is almost completely wasteful.

Except that hasn't always been true, has it?

I'll be the first to admit that government is currently mostly wasteful. There have been times when that wasn't the case, at least not to as great of an extent.

[Colonâ„¢]

Space exploration is highly worthwile effort. Manned space exploration OTOH is an utter waste of money and a dead-end effort.

[David Floyd]

Colon, I suppose that depends on the viability of establishing bases and eventually colonies throughout the solar system, right? And I admit that's a long, long way off, but it strikes me that it makes a lot of sense to expand beyond Earth, assuming that doing so is viable.

[KrazyHorse]

Space exploration is highly worthwile effort

Then let the private sector do it.

[David Floyd]

Well, I think we've beaten this topic to death. Agree to disagree?

[Colonâ„¢]

Colon, I suppose that depends on the viability of establishing bases and eventually colonies throughout the solar system, right? And I admit that's a long, long way off, but it strikes me that it makes a lot of sense to expand beyond Earth, assuming that doing so is viable.

I'm sure the day will come it will be worthwile to establish mining operations on other planets. However, I wouldn't assume so easily this implies the need for humans on the ground. And unless we discover earth-like climates and manage to bend the laws of physics to get there, you can just about forget permanent settlements elsewhere. It's just not worth the costs of keeping people alive.

[Colonâ„¢]

Then let the private sector do it.

I don't see why the private sector would feel the need to find a Hubble telescope anymore than it feels the need to fund a LHC. The benefits of such science are too distant and uncertain for the private sector to fund.

[KrazyHorse]

I don't see why the private sector would feel the need to find a Hubble telescope anymore than it feels the need to fund a LHC. The benefits of such science are too distant and uncertain for the private sector to fund.

The benefit of that science might well be nil.

[KrazyHorse]

Colon says it's worthwhile, though, so let's just go ahead and do it.

[David Floyd]

Man, I wish I was as smart, and, dare I say, omniscient, as KrazyHorse. Then, I could just laugh at everyone like he does, secure in my absolute knowledge that no one, anywhere, will ever be right if I disagree with them.

[SlowwHand]

Dis, the man said change. He didn't say Change, for the better.

[KrazyHorse]

Sweetheart, it's not confidence in my knowledge that makes me extremely skeptical of government spending on science, but LACK OF CONFIDENCE in the knowledge of almost everybody.

Colon's justification is that nobody in private enterprise is smart/confident enough to put their own money on the line in betting on the benefits of scientific research, yet somehow HE knows that there are benefits which make the cost worthwhile.