We can dare to dream of the stars again, if only we can achieve this small thing.

[Angrboda]

I think NASA faces a similar problem to that it faced with the space shuttle, the lack of a clear and tangible mission, and why achieving that mission is worth the resources. I'm not saying that it isn't, or more properly, that it cannot be; only that it's unclear that their current goals warrant whatever expense. And while it's pleasingly deceptive to argue that it's only one, wafer thin mint, the truth is that a 1/2 a percent of the U.S. budget is a shitload of money. And ask yourself where this money is going to come from? If from current budgets, every penny spent on NASA is a penny less spent on education, medicare, public works, or whatever your favorite boondoggle is. Or are you suggesting that we raise everyone's tax burden a 1/2 percent, knowing that as usual, the result will be effectually regressive, with the poor giving many times more than a 1/2 percent, and the rich considerably less. Are you okay with this if it means that the lowest income tax bracket will see a several percent increase in their taxes? And why do I suspect that the majority of signers of this have given not a wit of thought to these questions before signing it? Likely because they in fact haven't.

NASA is wonderful. Increasing spending in one sector without understanding the likely gains from doing so, and alternately the likely losses, by tax or defunding other programs, is not so wonderful.