the investment involved should drive growth in various technology and industrial sectors, obviously aerospace will benefit the most. [...] Additionally, technology developed for the space program has traditionally filtered back to consumers, and is probably good for increasing the standard of living.

Know what you mean. I don't trust George W. Bush (ok, I don't trust governments as a rule, but still) and I know that the militarization of space is inevitable with this program. I also recognize that we've got some serious problems to attend to here on earth.

But I am a child of the original Space Age, I watched the moon landing, and all the reasons that it seemed like a good idea then (many of them for long-range planners, only) still resonate with me.

And Space Stations are cool. The kind that rotate to simulate gravity. Yeah.

Oh, I'm not that old by better than ten years at least. And I mostly do trust Dubya (he's a politician, but he seems straightforward as politicians go). The man ain't perfect, God knows, but I have trouble coming up with those I'd rather have in the job. Militarily, I suspect space has another ten to thirty years or more before that's really a major concern. In the meantime, it's far too expensive to do that sort of fooling around, I'd guess.

If they can come up with a couple more microwave or Velcro™-type advances, or can manage to produce cheap, reliable suborbital transportation to speed up travel, those would be pretty significant advancements on their own. But flying cars and hub-style space stations would be neater.

On the other hand, there are valid complaints about more pressing issues at home and abroad that might be a more prudent expenditure of funds.

P.S. Plus, the only way we'll get from here to Firefly is up, not inward. :)

Uh, I liked Firefly, too, but I think I want the version of the future that doesn't require an "earth that was."

Uh, I liked Firefly, too, but I think I want the version of the future that doesn't require an "earth that was."

Strategically the U.S. can't not go, unless we want to cede space to other countries. With both China and India moving rapidly forward, the U.S. is now faced with the choice of either leading in space, or ceding its role in space to nations which (rightly so) will look out for their own national interests first.

I'll bet Bush'll say that China and India's announcements had nothing to do with his decision, to which I'll respond *Bushshit*! If China hadn't put a man in space and announced intentions of going to the moon, the most we'd still be looking at is how to limp along with a leaky space station.

I'll bet Bush'll say that China and India's announcements had nothing to do with his decision, to which I'll respond *Bushshit*! If China hadn't put a man in space and announced intentions of going to the moon, the most we'd still be looking at is how to limp along with a leaky space station.

I agree. I'm not an airhead lefty either, but I haven't felt comfortable about anything done by the Bush administration since it's been in power. Hell, even the spam bill is worthless. This moon schtick is as you stated - a shot at pulling over those straddling the fence who are stupid enough to be swayed by sweet descriptions of easily vetoed pipedreams.

If it cost a couple billion just to land a moveable object with no people in it on Mars, can you imagine the cost for sending people to the Moon or Mars? The cost, I believe is too much.

The whole concept was that within faith (at least how this person was preaching it), there was no room for life outside "God's Earth", so space exploration was a complete waste of money and resources.

Michelangelo painted the Mona Lisa.

Ummm... not to nit pick, but Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa. Were you perhaps thinking of the Sistine Chapel?

And people wonder why I'm bitter at 23.

With this rationale humanity will never be able to afford to go into space. Although I respect your view, I hope it doesn't prevail. If it does, I'm afraid that science fiction will remain exactly that, and the only future we'll be able to give our children is one wherein larger and larger wars are fought for dwindling resources on one overpopulated, overused, tiny world. :(

-Joe G.