[Coyoteman]

Well, with all due respect, I disagree - multiply $16 BILLION times just 20 years and do you really think that good "stuff" was worth $320 BILLION?

Yes. Where do you think that money was spent? On the moon? It was spent right here in the US, on the high tech industry. There is very little in medical remote sensing that does not come from NASA. Computers, weather prediction, and a host of other fields all owe some debt to the space industry. And you would have us throw that away for what?

Getting back to the original theme - so what if there was life on Mars?

If there is not now, there will be.

Tell you what, you stay here, and I'll go to Mars. How's that sound?

[furball4paws]

You can't, I already volunteered, one way if necessary.

[oh8eleven]

Tell you what, you stay here, and I'll go to Mars. How's that sound?
This taxpayer is TIRED of footing the bill for all the freeloaders who have this great "urge" to discover and want me to pay for it. I don't care where you go, as long as you pay for it.