[split] Neil Armstrong Dead

[Cyberman]

Everyone knows my personal emotional rollercoaster (hint: it's the one from Final Destination 3) but even I don't think the human race deserves to die out.

Geek time again, I'm afraid: there's a powerful scene in the final episode of the 'classic' - read 'proper' - Doctor Who series story Genesis of the Daleks in which opponents of Davros' Dalek project for the survival of his own humanoid race, the Kaleds, are holding what they think is a debate with him regarding the pros and cons of the project (Davros is using the debate to gain time while his prototype-Dalek forces move into position, but I digress):

Davros: The issues are simple and clear cut! I have given my life's work to the survival of our race. The travel machine I designed, the Dalek, will give the creature into which we will mutate its only possibility of continued existence.

Gharman: But you have deviated from that intention. You have introduced genetic changes that will alter the mutation into a creature without morals and without ethics.

Davros: I have introduced aggression! Without which, no race can survive.

Gharman: But aggression without a conscience.

Davros: History will show that co-operation between different species is impossible! One race must survive all others; and to do this, it must dominate. Ruthlessly. Now I intend that when all the bickering and battling is over, the supreme victor shall be our race - the Daleks! At this very moment, the production lines stand ready, totally automated, fully programmed. The Daleks are no longer dependent on us; the machinery is ready. They are a power in their own right!

If any one of you would destroy everything that we have ever achieved, then here... is a destruct button. Press it and you will destroy this bunker and everything in it. Only this room will remain! Press it and you will wipe out our entire race, destroy the Daleks forever! Which of you - will do it?

[Nobody moves, except to shift uneasily]

Davros: (with deep contempt) You are men without courage. You have lost your right to survive.

[Davros and his lieutenant, Nyder, confer]

Davros: (whispering) Good. We have achieved the delay we needed. Wait a few minutes, then check that everything is ready.

[Gharman address the assembly]

Gharman: You have heard Davros' case. What he has not made clear is that there is another way.

Davros: There is no other way!

Gharman: Production of the Dalek can continue. We can destroy the genetically conditioned creatures and allow the mutation to follow its own course. Our race will survive if it deserves to survive - but let it have all the strengths and weaknesses that we have; compassion and hate. Let it do good things and evil. But we cannot let it become an unfeeling, heartless machine. That is our choice. Now... we must decide.

I think what I'm saying essentially is that, similarly, our race ought to be allowed to survive if it deserves to survive. However, in order for that to happen, we must out-evolve and outgrow the more obvious threats such as wilful and manipulative stupidity, whether religiously- or politically-motivated (even if there's such a distinction): I can see nothing good coming from such things

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Ah - just found the example I was looking for; and it's not sci-fi related this time. This is from 2010 regarding Obama's 2011 Budget Proposal, but I understand the situation is actually even worse now:

Wait, how big is NASA’s budget again?

Can you find NASA on there? It’s actually listed under General Science, near the bottom right. That rectangle’s not very big, is it? And NASA is only a part of that section, so the space agency’s lion’s share is starting to look more like a kitten’s nibble.

And that's NASA, funded by the wealthiest Western economy - I have no idea what the ESA funding is by comparison.