Isn't dismantling the space program long overdue?

[dust1n]

He is over extended and most likely has a negative net worth, so yeah, I would say he is broke all things considered.

You remind me of the guy who told the bank, I can't be broke, I still have checks left!

Why? With a thirty year loan, one's payment's would be around $1500 dollars including property taxes. 40k is probably 28k after taxes. How is that being overextended, unless there are kids or abnormal bills to consider.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Why? With a thirty year loan, one's payment's would be around $1500 dollars including property taxes. 40k is probably 28k after taxes. How is that being overextended, unless there are kids or abnormal bills to consider.

Your house payment should be 25% of your monthly take home pay. Using your figures, 28K is 538 dollars a week and what your house payment should be.

I think you could get a better mortage payment than 1,500.00 on your example house however.

There are much more expenses with home ownership than just the house payment.

 

[dust1n]

Your house payment should be 25% of your monthly take home pay. Using your figures, 28K is 538 dollars a week and what your house payment should be.

Thanks for the tip. Genuinely.

I think you could get a better mortage payment than 1,500.00 on your example house however.

There are much more expenses with home ownership than just the house payment.

Well, with someone my age and income, I'd be lucky to get 1,500. Seriously though, I overshot to be safe. And I don't disagree that we don't have a huge debt problem. But it's not like we are in broke, as in.. there is no way to actually purchase something or make it happen.

 

[Riverwolf]

Obama says it is unpatriotic.

[youtube]1kuTG19Cu_Q[/youtube]
Obama says adding $4 trillion to debt is unpatriotic. - YouTube

He can say whatever he wants; his actual power over such things is not a far cry greater than the amount of power the Queen has over the UK's economy.

The US government is made of hundreds of individuals. The fault lies with each one of them for failing in their duties.

Not that this matters; as has been stated repeatedly, the amount spent on NASA is so miniscule, that it's virtually negligible. Let's cut back on other things, like, oh, I don't know, the military? Perhaps if funding were cut from that, we'd be able to pay off the debts by the time the next president is running a second time?

 

[Reverend Rick]

He can say whatever he wants; his actual power over such things is not a far cry greater than the amount of power the Queen has over the UK's economy.

The US government is made of hundreds of individuals. The fault lies with each one of them for failing in their duties.

Not that this matters; as has been stated repeatedly, the amount spent on NASA is so miniscule, that it's virtually negligible. Let's cut back on other things, like, oh, I don't know, the military? Perhaps if funding were cut from that, we'd be able to pay off the debts by the time the next president is running a second time?

We just added another entitlement, health care. I support cutting the military, but that alone will not be enough. The lion's share of the budget is entitlements. How should we deal with that issue? Just give more than we can afford or figure out how to keep these things solvent?

Is it fair to have a Cadillac plan right now and have nothing left to give future generations?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Science is what drives progress.
The human race will never be able to decamp to another planet.
But it might be able to colonise a few.
Last week Cern were discussing the effect of gravity on antimatter.
Who knows where that might lead.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Science is what drives progress.
The human race will never be able to decamp to another planet.
But it might be able to colonise a few.
Last week Cern were discussing the effect of gravity on antimatter.
Who knows where that might lead.

I'm excited about this too. It's hard to go to other places with 1950's technolgy.

Goddard's rocket engines still send stuff into space.

 

[Riverwolf]

We just added another entitlement, health care. I support cutting the military, but that alone will not be enough. The lion's share of the budget is entitlements. How should we deal with that issue? Just give more than we can afford or figure out how to keep these things solvent?

Is it fair to have a Cadillac plan right now and have nothing left to give future generations?

I don't know what a Cadillac plan is, but I assume it has something to do with fancy race cars. Health care is not in any way comparable to such things.

As frequently said, NASA doesn't get much of anything from the government, so they're basically already out of the picture. The best solution is to cut from the military, and get rid of luxury entitlements that are comparable to keeping your kid from getting decent medical care for the sake of getting that fancy new car. I.E., tax evasions and the like. Things that are harmless and the absence of which won't cause anyone to potentially lose their lives.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I don't know what a Cadillac plan is, but I assume it has something to do with fancy race cars. Health care is not in any way comparable to such things.

As frequently said, NASA doesn't get much of anything from the government, so they're basically already out of the picture. The best solution is to cut from the military, and get rid of luxury entitlements that are comparable to keeping your kid from getting decent medical care for the sake of getting that fancy new car. I.E., tax evasions and the like. Things that are harmless and the absence of which won't cause anyone to potentially lose their lives.

I some time wonder if we even speak the same language when you give me an answer like this one.

Let me keep it simple. If we currently fund Seniors at say a level 6 on a scale of one to ten and later cannot fund the next group of seniors at the same level should we not reduce the level to 4 or 5 and keep things consistent for everyone in the future or are you good with people now receiving a level 6 and future seniors being funded at level 3?

You completely ignored my comment that we have to cut more than just the military and will be forced to cut elsewhere as well. Do you want to ignore the problem until we can't any more?

 

[Riverwolf]

I some time wonder if we even speak the same language when you give me an answer like this one.

You're a businessman and I'm an artist. Of course we don't speak the same language.

Let me keep it simple. If we currently fund Seniors at say a level 6 on a scale of one to ten and later cannot fund the next group of seniors at the same level should we not reduce the level to 4 or 5 and keep things consistent for everyone in the future or are you good with people now receiving a level 6 and future seniors being funded at level 3?

You completely ignored my comment that we have to cut more than just the military and will be forced to cut elsewhere as well. Do you want to ignore the problem until we can't any more?

Of course not. But what you seem to be saying is that we should not fund Seniors today at all, not just reducing them a level.

Besides, let me put it like this: NASA gets the money the government finds discarded on the street or in trashcans. Negligiable compared to the amount the military and other things get.

Therefore, let's not go all or nothing. Cut only the things whose absence would not be harmful (i.e., hyper-advanced military toys, tax-evasions, things like that), but keep the things that are necessary for survival. For the record, NASA is necessary for survival if only to keep us prepared for potential impacts, or at least so that such impacts can be recognized as such instead of becoming a catalyst for nuclear war.

You don't want me to end up in an institution with absolutely no freedom or self-existence, do you?

 

[Duck]

That's sure to be one of the arguments, listing all the different applications space exploration has on everyday life. And I'm sure somebody is able finagle a way to justify putting half the objects we use in our day to day lives on that list. It's going to make the list very long and impressive looking. The problem is it probably won't mention just how in consequential the role that space exploration may have played in the development of many of those items. I'd more interested in hearing about some of the ways space travel is INDESPENSABLE in our lives and/or in the creation of many of the items we use.

You have a garmin? Ever use Google Maps? Ever use a satellite photo? Ever watch Direct TV or Dish Network? Ever eat hydroponically grown vegetables? Ever use solar power?

All of these things that you probably use in your daily life were made possible by the scientific research conducted by, for and on behalf of NASA and the space program.

 

[Duck]

I agree.

Getting out there may be impossible with currently-existing technology, but NEVER underestimate human innovation, inspiration, or adaptability. After all, it used to be impossible to get out there at all.

Current levels of technology are present and perfectly adequate to the task of colonization of the Earth-Moon-Mars system. Colonization of those bodies (Moon and Mars) won't be easy, nor would they be inexpensive but current technology is adequate to the task.

I don't know if current technology is adequate to asteroid belt mining or colonization of bodies such as Venus or the larger moons of Jupiter and Saturn. I imagine that with a bit of innovation asteroid mining and the like could be accomplished.

I think that long term space exploration (such as to another star system) is likely out of our reach until more knowledge is garnered regarding the long term effects of microgravity (aka weightlessness) on human physiology and more importantly gestation. The most recent things I have read indicate that microgravity impacts plant growth and development but I am not sure if there has been much research into the impacts on nutritional content re: hydroponically grown vegetables and fruits.

 

[Meow Mix]

Current levels of technology are present and perfectly adequate to the task of colonization of the Earth-Moon-Mars system. Colonization of those bodies (Moon and Mars) won't be easy, nor would they be inexpensive but current technology is adequate to the task.

I don't know if current technology is adequate to asteroid belt mining or colonization of bodies such as Venus or the larger moons of Jupiter and Saturn. I imagine that with a bit of innovation asteroid mining and the like could be accomplished.

I think that long term space exploration (such as to another star system) is likely out of our reach until more knowledge is garnered regarding the long term effects of microgravity (aka weightlessness) on human physiology and more importantly gestation. The most recent things I have read indicate that microgravity impacts plant growth and development but I am not sure if there has been much research into the impacts on nutritional content re: hydroponically grown vegetables and fruits.

Colonization of Venus's atmosphere is possible with current technology -- a nitrogenous/oxygenous atmosphere floats in the Venusian atmosphere at temperatures and pressures comparable to an Earth spring day; and the high winds would cause such a floating colony to zip around the planet (providing roughly a 48-72 hour cycle, much better than the 360 or whatever [toolazytolookitup] day cycle Venus's actual revolution provides).

Now, I have no idea *why* we'd want to do such a thing... just pointing out that if sheer real estate is ever the problem, the Venusian atmosphere provides and current technology is feasible to exploit.

 

[Apex]

Now, I have no idea *why* we'd want to do such a thing...

Cause it would be ****ING AWESOME!!!

 

[Reptillian]

Colonization of Venus's atmosphere is possible with current technology -- a nitrogenous/oxygenous atmosphere floats in the Venusian atmosphere at temperatures and pressures comparable to an Earth spring day; and the high winds would cause such a floating colony to zip around the planet (providing roughly a 48-72 hour cycle, much better than the 360 or whatever [toolazytolookitup] day cycle Venus's actual revolution provides).

Now, I have no idea *why* we'd want to do such a thing... just pointing out that if sheer real estate is ever the problem, the Venusian atmosphere provides and current technology is feasible to exploit.

But the smell! You forgot to mention the stench of the Venusian air. Blechhhh! Rotten eggs and stink bombs.

 

[Meow Mix]

But the smell! You forgot to mention the stench of the Venusian air. Blechhhh! Rotten eggs and stink bombs.

But you'd be breathing your floating city's air, not Venusian air (which is also full of sulfuric acid!)

 

[Reptillian]

But you'd be breathing your floating city's air, not Venusian air (which is also full of sulfuric acid!)

$50 bucks (or it's distant future equivalent) says the first Venusian city engineers don't filter the Venusian atmosphere adequately for hydrogen sulfide and the city smells like rotten eggs. I've been to cities on Earth (Rotorua, New Zealand) that reek of rotten eggs and the hydrogen sulfide content there can't be more than a few parts per million.

 

[Aquitaine]

Colonization of Venus's atmosphere is possible with current technology -- a nitrogenous/oxygenous atmosphere floats in the Venusian atmosphere at temperatures and pressures comparable to an Earth spring day; and the high winds would cause such a floating colony to zip around the planet (providing roughly a 48-72 hour cycle, much better than the 360 or whatever [toolazytolookitup] day cycle Venus's actual revolution provides).

Now, I have no idea *why* we'd want to do such a thing... just pointing out that if sheer real estate is ever the problem, the Venusian atmosphere provides and current technology is feasible to exploit.

Hells yeah let's colonize Venus, after all that's where the rest of all the wimmenz live, right?

 

[Meow Mix]

$50 bucks (or it's distant future equivalent) says the first Venusian city engineers don't filter the Venusian atmosphere adequately for hydrogen sulfide and the city smells like rotten eggs. I've been to cities on Earth (Rotorua, New Zealand) that reek of rotten eggs and the hydrogen sulfide content there can't be more than a few parts per million.

Actually no, I'm not taking that bet as I imagine you're right.

However, I wonder what the tolerance for that is in humans?

You know, have you ever had to continually be around some kind of awful smell (used to live downwind from a pig farm myself waaaaay back in the day) and you eventually TOTALLY stop being able to smell it?

 

[apophenia]

Now, I have no idea *why* we'd want to do such a thing...

Because all our eggs are in one basket.