K_MACART@UNHH.BITNET (02/07/89)
/subject funding for space use (manned AND unmanned)
I have a solution that won't raise taxes, will reduce the
deficit, and contribute to the scientific and industrial
well being. Unfortunately, it is politically "not viable"
due to various aspects of human nature (greed,nationalism,
paranoia, greed...).
Here it is. All the industrialized nations are bleeding
themselves white with defense spending, and don't have the
resources to properly research and develop space and other
on-Earth resources (fusion,aquaculture,superconductivity and
all of those pie-in-the-sky technologies that require massive
infusions of capital). This is true moreso for the superpowers.
In a like vein as the recent missle reductions, have opposing
nations cut future defense budgets by an agreed upon amount
(the pentagon will demand we have "parity" first), with these
funds, set aside a fraction (100 million for every billion reduced)
to jointly or independently spend on the r&d mentioned before.
The less money is spent (less taxes), more real work is done, and
there is a good climate of international cooperation (especially
for joint missions and projects). The only losers are the defense
industry companies (unless they are smart enough to re-tool for the
increased need for launch vehicles, aerospace systems, etc.). The
major flaw in this is, of course, politics. Fortunately, if enough
people try over an extremely long time, things can change.
Before I get flamed from here to Hackensack and back, let me say
that this is merely an opinion that expresses an optemist's view of
alternatives to the present apathetic views of the future.
Korac MacArthur
K_MACART@UNHH (BITNET)
"Optemism and Realism are not necessarily mutally exlusive."