aka779 (11/05/82)
SENATOR PROXMIRE HAS WON ANOTHER TERM! The space program weeps. Senator Harrison Schmitt loses! Double weeps! Wisconsin, I understand--just cows and butter up there, and the dairymen keep voting in their subsidies that we all have to pay... But, New Mexico! HIgh-tech desert, why oh why have you deserted the strongest proponent of the programs that have kept The Land of Enchantment one of the best places to work? Ah, I miss the great southwest, but I am severely disappointed in my amigos. My ten years as a Neuvo Mexicano never prepared me for this turnabout. --Arlan Andrews, once of Las Cruces and White Sands...
wombat (11/05/82)
#R:inuxd:-20200:uicsl:11100001:000:246 uicsl!wombat Nov 5 10:38:00 1982 Schmidt lost because the environmental PAC put a lot of money into the campaign against him. He had one of the worst voting records on environmental issues in the Senate. Proxmire's campaign cost him $100. Is there intelligent life in Wisconsin?
thor (11/09/82)
Regarding the rather obnoxious question of whether there is intelligent
life in Wisconsin, let me answer yes. Let me also remind you that the
task of a senator (or rep to congress) is to represent the needs of
his or her constituents. Very few of Wisconsin's industries are connected
with the space program. (and I believe that has always been the case) So,
why should Proxmire push for money for space (sure in the long run the
benefits could be tremendous) now? The return on the investment in space
for Wisconsin would probably be small right now, however. And the
majority of the voters are concerned with immediate results (in Wisconsin,
in Florida, or in any other state!). Proxmire wants to keep his job
just like the rest of us.
Let me also remind you as far as intelligence goes that Wisconsin
has one of the finest state University systems in the country. Furthermore,
many of the people reading this net may have been trained at those
universities in Wisconsin.
By the way, we are not totally myopic. Wisconsin was the first state to
pass as a referendum, a measure to control the buildup of nuclear weapons.
I believe Wisconsin was also one of the first states to provide
workmans compensation insurance.
Hopefully, we on the net can refrain from further insults of this
type and at least attempt a good exchange of ideas.
Mark Kohls
UW-Milwaukee 1981
Bell Labs
Napervillekcarroll (11/09/82)
I agree that it is unfair to expect a senator who represents a state in which no space-related industry is based, to "push for money for space". After all, the principle behind having a senate in the first place was to protect the interests of the individual states, by giving the states a part in deciding on legislation that might affect them. Farsighted senators might see that the future interests of their state are tied to the future of the human race as a whole, and that (as I'm sure that most readers of this newsgroup will agree) is dependent on our moving out into space >soon<; however, we can't >expect< a senator to be far-sighted. Wisconsin-enthusiasts might note that space-enthusiasts don't really begrudge them their dairy-subsidies, or argue that Sen. Proxmire is wrong in obtaining thos subsidies. We don't argue that it should be part of Proxmire's job to push for more funds for space. We >do< feel that it >should not< be part of his job to push for >less< funds for space! It is hard to imagine how Wisconsin will benefit from a continued low level of funding for high-tech research throughout the country, unless the funds diverted from the space program were to be funnelled directly into Wisconsin's dairy program (which I'm sure they're not). While I'm sure that there is intelligent life in Wisconsin, I'm not sure that it appreciates the havoc its elected representative is wreaking with researchers in other states. It would be nice if the hypothetical intelligent life would put a muzzle on its senator, and keep him from attacking these researchers, who don't have the resources to defend themselves from senators bent on re-election at any cost (at any cost to anyone but himself, that is to say). Before flaming on this topic, get yourself a copy of some of the good senator's "Golden Fleece" press releases, and ask yourself whether these are fair, reasoned arguments against government spending. (I beleive a book titled "The Golden Fleece Awards" has been published, listing some of these). ---Kieran A. Carroll ...decvax!utzoo!kcarroll
doug (11/10/82)
That is a problem with Wisconsin, Florida, every other state, big business and lots of things - the desire for a quick return on investment. Proxmire is short-sighted. That, in my view, is not a compliment. If it is granted that space exploration is in *everyone's* long term interest then voters, even here in Wisconsin, should push actively for it and throw those out of office who try to stop it. Nobody criticizes Proxmire for not pushing for space exploration. It is his attempts to actively thwart it that irks a lot of people. Doug Lerner doug@uwisc Madison, Wisconsin
henry (11/10/82)
Jerry Pournelle said it all: "Anyone who buys Wisconsin cheese is a traitor to mankind!"
preece (11/15/82)
#R:uwvax:-67000:uicsl:11100004:000:194 uicsl!preece Nov 15 09:05:00 1982 I imagine that given the dairy subsidy program Proxmire so ably defends, it doesn't make much difference whether we buy the cheese or not; what we don't buy in the store we buy as taxpayers...