And the layers of beaureaucracy that go with it?

We already spend a ton of money at the federal level for education. Most of it goes to sensitivity programs, multiculturalism, English as a second language, multilingual instruction, diversity education, and other useless foolishness of that ilk. Do we really want to **** more money away on that mess?

Whatever happened to the days when you went to school to learn how to read, write, and count? Did the American people forget about the basics? Most kids can't find their home state on a map, give you the chemical symbol for WATER, run a basic algebra problem, or tell you when the American Civil War was fought. Folks, there's something VERY wrong with the state of our education system.

Most of the cognoscenti will say that there's too many distractions in school, and want to eliminate the things that made school fun, and made you want to learn. "Back in tha day," as the youngsters say, we went on 4-5 field trips a year to see things like plays, orchestra performances, museum exhibits, and what-not. Today, if a student goes on ONE trip a year, they're doing good.

These are the same geniuses that have gutted the school arts and music programs, as they are "not necessary," yet over-fund athletics. About 10 years ago, my alma mater, Chalmette High School, spent $50,000 to redo their football field. That same year, the band had to eliminate certain horn sections because the school could not afford to maintain the instruments. The band also had to have several fund-raisers to purchase new uniforms, as the school went co-ed after almost 30 years, and the uniforms in use were over 30 years old. The schoolboard wouldn't help, as music isn't considered "essential," whatever that is supposed to mean.

As far as healthcare, most states have healthcare assistance for the indigent. I think it sucks that the working poor can't get healthcare, but unfortunately that's the way it is. Take that one up with your employers, folks.

On the subject of food--there is already a federal food-stamp program. Just try qualifying for it if you ain't on the dole. What a joke! Unless you own literally NOTHING that's just what you'll get. Unfortunately there are that element of society that show having nothing on paper, yet drive to the welfare office in relatively-new luxury automobiles, wear more jewelry than is considered tasteful (often in places jewelry was never meant to be worn, like the teeth), and more likely than not indulge in certain non-prescription medications. What the heck is wrong with the system?

Our problem isn't having the money to spend, it's how the money is spent. Cut the crap, and you'll be shocked at how far our tax dollars go.

(EDIT: And, don't take this as a personal attack 02PSD4ME. It ain't you that got me riled up. I just got up on the wrong side of the universe this morning!)

 

I somehow knew this was going to get derailed.

Waxy

 

That is exactly why i said,
We need to do a little field-tripping...grown-up style!

Ya, think?

 

That is the kind of spirit we need…and my sentiments exactly. [/B][/QUOTE]

Thank you kindly Big Orn! I am amazed that people even dare to question exploration.......didnt anyone ever dream of space when they were a kid? I can remember pretending to be on other planets as a child.. How fun was that!!!!
So much good comes from learning and how exciting to live in times when we ARE learning new things!!!!
We take for granted our technology and surroundings so much that I think much has been forgotten on how we came to these things.. that first spark of enlightenment..
why did we dig up dinosaurs? that cost time and money too...everything cost money!
Sure there are hundreds if not thousands of reasons to spend money on something else... but there is a slight limit on how far that money will actually benefit .. I know there will be an arguement on this but how can you put a price tag on something that could be a major discovery...We have no idea what this new knowledge will bring forth... did any inventor and discoverer know exactly what the benefits would have been by his trouble.. maybe not but Thank God there were men and women willing to take the risks, spend the money.. do whatever it took to simply learn.....and thus we can only benefit
Only my humblest opinion

 

Where is Greywolf, he usually has really good comments on stuff like this.....

 

Sure there are hundreds if not thousands of reasons to spend money on something else... but there is a slight limit on how far that money will actually benefit .. I know there will be an arguement on this but how can you put a price tag on something that could be a major discovery...We have no idea what this new knowledge will bring forth... did any inventor and discoverer know exactly what the benefits would have been by his trouble.. maybe not but Thank God there were men and women willing to take the risks, spend the money.. do whatever it took to simply learn.....and thus we can only benefit
Only my humblest opinion [/B][/QUOTE]

Actually we put price tags on science and research every day. This one happens to be about $800 million according to one of the other posters. Lots of people are voicing the sentiments that this is an insignificant amount of money and the benefits far outweigh the costs. I guess that remains to be seen, but I assure you, $800 million is a lot of money. Also, consider the total amount the space program has spent since it's inception. Again, I'm not saying hands down it's a waste of funds, in this democracy we live in, we all have to accept what the majority wants to do. I don't think you can compare it to exploring our own planet or our own history. What happens/happened on Earth directly effects our civilization and our ability to survive.

 

I'm all for space exploration.But i understand NASA is going through a budget crunch right now.By NASA funding this mars probe they are diverting funds i feel should be going to the space shuttle program.I think any available funding NASA currently has should go to doing scientific research on this planet.any exploration of mars should be funded through the private sector.

 

The Mars expedition was on Nova last night on PBS. They had the scientists and engineers on there that dreamed these things up and built them. My impressions - these are VERY smart men and women who are VERY passionate about what they do, it was infectious.

The conplexity of these missions is mind boggling.

A fact on the money from the show - the last time NASA went to mars, the Viking missions, the budget was 900 million, IN 1976! That's around 3 BILLION in todays funds. So, by that yardstick anyway, these missions are giving us amazing bang for our buck.

Can't wait to see today's pictures.

Waxy

 

Waxy, I have to agree with you on this one. This is amazing.

Jsku, If the spanish government had thought the way you now think then we would all be in Europe and no one would own a sailboat for fear of sailing off the edge of the earth. The public at that time believed that sailing around the world was impossible, as you believe travel to Mars is now impossible. A few brave humans proved the public otherwise then, as a few brave humans may prove otherwise with Mars in the future.

In the 1400's the money spent to send Columbus to the new world was probably as large in their dollar as this mission is to ours.

Some of you say " we should spend the money here to fix our current problems." If we did this we would never get anywhere. Do you think the Spanish solved all their problems before sending Colombo? No, of coarse not.

 

Great program. Made the wife cry.

If our best and brightest think this is a worthwhile undertaking I'll side with them.

 

If we want to survive as a species we have to get off of this planet and colonize others. Don't think so? Name one species that has exsisted here from the beginning. We are using up our resources, we are getting over populated and we are losing our exploration drive. Me, if there were a planet suitable to colonize and I could take what I needed, I would be gone in a flash and most of my sons would go too.

 

I am in agreement that the pictures are interesting and that it's an incredible feat to land the rover on Mars. I was fishing for the tangible benefits that might come from the expedition. When exploration is financed with private funds, I don't feel it's my place to ask for accountability. When I'm paying for it, I like to know what's going on. I agree that it's not the most expensive project we've ever bankrolled, it's just that we keep adding more projects to our list.

 

Jsku, To give specific details is a tough order to fill. Perhaps the photos will provide a future landing sight, proff of a live for humans, large amounts of gold scattered across the surface. Whatever they find will inevitibly lead to the advancement of knowledge about the planet. Hell we may find that Mars is useles and that we can all put it out of our minds. We will never know until we go.
To say we will never have travel to Mars in great numbers is a great lack of creativity. JFK said "I want a man on the moon." We were there within a decade.

 

Last time I checked, Earth was the only planet capable of sustaining life. Our blood, sweat, and tears stolen from us (taxes) are being pi#!ed away by a bunch of over curious knuckleheads and it's way past time to stop it. Mars is dead. The Moon is dead. It's not going to change anytime soon.

 

Knuckleheads?

Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me.

Later Larry