(July 5, 2017 at 2:48 am)Godscreated Wrote:(July 4, 2017 at 6:16 am)Succubus Wrote: A popular lament is; why are we spending so much money on space exploration when so many are starving? This a false dilemma, as is the main premise of the OP. If all funding for NASA, ESA were stopped tomorrow that doesn’t mean those funds will be diverted to rescuing starving babies. Many billion$ have been thrown at the problem but the problem is still here.
A more pertinent question would be; where is all the money going?
Here's the thing if we had started with those first brilliant minds at NASA and applied the money which reaches into the trillions now the US could have solved the worlds hunger and drinkable water problems by now. If we couldn't then we are a sad bunch. Yes like many small boys I was enthused about space, but as a small boy I did not realize the great problem of starvation and drinkable water, but those adults that wanted a space advantage to be one up on the other country for war purposes realized the problem. Over population is the major factor in the problems we face to day, if we had started developing a teaching program in the 50's and spread education, food and drinkable water over the entire planet we wouldn't be in this shape. Until we can bring down the population of the world and convince people that living high on the hog is not a right when it cost so many so much then we deserve everything we get. Space stations, space travel, satellites and other things in space have never been necessary, but the problem of starvation and drinkable water for the world has always been and is even more so today a necessity. Look guys our water supply in the US is becoming critical and there's one thing we can count on those with the money will get what water is available, the rest of us will have to drink what ever we can stomach. The rich and powerful have always controlled the important things and they always will if the people of this world do not come to their senses. Think we have changed as a people, think again, we've managed to trash up this country through all kinds of pollution and now we are doing the same to the space above us. Guess what, now NASA is working on garbage trucks for space, if this doesn't tell us how hopeless we've become then I'm afraid nothing will. Just like the Europeans came to the New World and started taking land they did not own nor purchased and later the Americans followed suite, believing that we have the right to everything we can lay our hands on and treat it as we wish all, in the name of money and knowledge, we've expanded it to other planets. What gives us the right to trash up this solar system. Rant over.
GC
(July 5, 2017 at 2:36 am)JackRussell Wrote: Not when they work in the public sector. But I know from experience many USAsians just don't get that.
Just remember this when some poor guy dies because he couldn't afford such technology to save his life, it goes on everyday everywhere and until we stop it nothings going to change, this is reality.
GC
Yep, USAsians don't get it. When you have public healthcare systems, the technology is available to all, even if they are homeless and destitute. In the UK they are talking about genetic mapping for all cancer patients to give targeted treatment. This costs around 680GBP per person. The patient doesn't pay that. It's part of the social contract we have and having the NHS. The NHS sure ain't perfect, but the vision is healthcare for all.
