www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Space Station and Space Travel

As of late, a lot of people have been arguing about the morality of government spending and the effects of the general populus. What do you think about government spending on the International Space Station and Space travel?

I read an article somewhere today that stated the US has spent $44 billion alone on the space station so far. I'm more of a down-to-earth kind of guy (pun intended), this seems like such lavish spending to me. I believe that there is much valor in trying to learn about God's creation, but at such a cost?

Just some thoughts.

I work at a major airport and I don't even want to board an AIRPLANE to go anywhere, much less journey into outer space.

Perhaps I am very ignorant but I have trouble seeing that the U.S. space program deserves all the $$ spent on it.

Typically, ever dollar spent on the space program has generated something like $75-$100 in economic activity from technology spinoffs. It's been one of the really great boons to mankind. However, the manned space program should definitely be privatized, and NASA should get out of operations and focus mainly on technology development.

Would not the same money spent elsewhere, whether by the Government or individuals generate some economic activity? Any money spent produces some for of activity.

It might. But the amount of money spent on the space program is so miniscule, and the leverage provided so immense, why would we want to do that? Exploration is always worthwhile, even if you don't know what you will find. Consider, for instance, that none of the early European explorers of the New World had the slightest idea of whether their ventures would pay for themselves.

In 2008, NASA's budget was only 0.6% of the Federal Budget, and seemingly has brought about good results, whilst welfare cost about 13% and will only bring about further generations of those dependent on entitlements. NASA is one of the few things on the short list that federal tax money SHOULD be spent on. Also on that list is national defense and the postal system. Most of the rest is unconstitutional.

In the very short term, possibly, for even money lost within the corruption and ineptness of government winds up in someone's pocket and is eventually spent.

But consider that not letting the government get its hands on that money (i.e., lower taxes) allows individuals and corporations to invest it in ways that create jobs long term. Government spending is legitimate to create a road (infrastructure is called for in the Constitution) but government spending never creates wealth for individuals. Only the demand for labor of individuals creates wealth (i.e., give them a job). Governments can't so this because governments take every dime they get from the people (or from business run by the people) and there is only so much money they can take from people (and businesses run by people) before the people decide it isn't worth the effort (which is why higher tax rates typically produce less total income to the government then lower tax rates).

I agree with Stuart that NASA should be privatized.

I won't get into the morality of taxation and over-taxation in this thread, but last week at a meeting I ran into a neighbor who didn't sent her oldest off to a Catholic high school this fall (he went to a Catholic grade school). She blame taxes so high that they simply cannot afford it. So we have a situation where (if she is correct) the government takes so much of the money she and her husband earn to educate others (and do a lot of other things with) to the point where she cannot educate her children in a Catholic school. One might dwell on the morality of such high taxes, or on the morality of taking their money and giving them no choice in educating their children.