[SubSailor]

I think it's really cool going to Mars and beaming back pictures. It's amazin'...simply amazin'! HOWEVER, the cost of this project was over 800 million dollars. How many people are in the USA? Around 300 million? I would have much preferred cancelling this project and distributing the cash equally among every citizen in the USA. Same goes for the proposed Moon/Mars missions. I can't believe we are considering this when we're not sure if Social Security will still be solvent by the time the last baby boomers retire. Just my 2 cents.

[The_Victor]

HOWEVER, the cost of this project was over 800 million dollars. How many people are in the USA? Around 300 million? I would have much preferred cancelling this project and distributing the cash equally among every citizen in the USA. Same goes for the proposed Moon/Mars missions. I can't believe we are considering this when we're not sure if Social Security will still be solvent by the time the last baby boomers retire.

You'd eliminate the this Mars mission for ~$2.67?

If the US wants to kill the space program the only appropriate thing to do with the money is cut taxes. Anything else is just more welfare. However, if we want mankind to survive longterm, we must leave this planet. Right now, all of our eggs are in this one basket.

[Hunble]

I would have much preferred cancelling this project and distributing the cash equally among every citizen in the USA.

Wow man, $2.66 will make me RICH!

For only $2.66 from each American, we have a robot exploring another planet. No other country on Earth has achieved that level of technology and successfully landed a robot on Mars.

For the low cost of $2.66, you could not watch a Hollywood movie in a theater for that price.

[Maringa]

I hope I'm not misinterpreting your post, however lets see: $800 million, 300 million Americans. I think I can afford skipping a big mac meal every once in a while, if it would send an armada of these things into space. Unfortunately it's probably the wisest $2.67 my government has spent recently. I say, send more of these things to Mars, Europa, Titan, Pluto, etc...

[Gekko The Great]

HOWEVER, the cost of this project was over 800 million dollars. How many people are in the USA? Around 300 million? I would have much preferred cancelling this project and distributing the cash equally among every citizen in the USA.

So take the lousy $2.67 and buy yourself a Big Mac? It won't get you a glass of decent draft beer at your local pub. You aren't going to get rich from that, take it from me, someone who knows. Is that extra Big Mac or Grilled Stuft Burrito really that important to you, in the long run?

Greed is NOT good...

[autoresponder]

800 million to 300 million people

3)8 = $2.66 each

That will buy a burger and a Coke



Pretty close to 2¢

[Doohickey]

I'd gladly pay three bucks for the Mars Rover. I'll cover yours too.

[Elric@Melnibone]

HOWEVER, the cost of this project was over 800 million dollars. How many people are in the USA? Around 300 million? I would have much preferred cancelling this project and distributing the cash equally among every citizen in the USA.

That works out to about $2.67 per person. It's your choice to be short-sighted (IMHO) but I consider it money well spent. Yes, I would prefer to see it done by private enterprise but the game is rigged so that this is the only way to play.

And, for those who think robotic missions are the way to go, if there were a person along on this mission, the problem might well be able to be diagnosed and fixed. That's not so certain by remote and, if it fails, makes the ROI much less appealing, even to me. Robots have their place, and I think we ought to be peppering the universe with them, but you can't beat a human for exploration and handling the unexpected.

People are more versatile than machines. And more curious. And more cautious. Makes for a strange breed.

[hattend]

I can't believe we are considering this when we're not sure if Social Security will still be solvent by the time the last baby boomers retire.

I would prefer they distribute THIS fund back to those who paid into it and dissolve the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, it's already insolvent, there is no "fund", it's a Ponzi scheme. So it can't just end because then taxpayers will know the truth.

On to Mars!

[Doc On The Bay]

So we All decide to CANCEL ALL the "Government-Sponsored" "Exploration Projects" & Re-Distribute the "Government Monies"--Equitably--to "The Poor."

So Three or Four Generations from now, our "Government Supported Descendants" ask;--"So, WHAT, NOW???"

We are NOW "In Debt,"--"Up to our Eyeballs," to support our "Non-Producing Citizens,"--there is NO "Excess Money" to fund ANY "Projects." We have Spent whatever "Legacy" we Inherited to sustain the "Lifestyles of" our "Less-Productive Citizens." & we cannot even offer Them the Slightest Hope that "Human Existence" on this planet will EVER be better than the Dreary Life they now lead.

There is NO, "OUT THERE,"--there is ONLY the Continuing "HardScrabble Life" of Diminishing Returns on Earth, as our Resources slowly diminish....

SOME FUTURE!!

Is it ANY WONDER that the "Best & Brightest" of us want a "Shot At 'Out There??'"

Doc