And just how was Congress supposed to promote the progress of science? Oh yes....
>by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries
Doesn't say a thing about funding a government program whose sole mission the last 20 years has been to send an outdated bus of space junk up over and over again. Nor does it say anything about funding missions to the moon or Mars (which could be done more efficiently and effectively by private industry if allowed to).
And as there is an upside for those that advocate big government under the Republican party for their sacred cows, there are those of the Democrats that could use the same argument to claim promoting the 'useful arts'.
Hot diggity, crosses in jars of urine and paid for by your tax dollars. I'm sure there's some fool that thinks that would be art
Nice to be on the same side of this issue with you. How about Americans amend the Constitution to allow the things we want the government to do, that are not currently provided for with a reasonable reading of the Constituion, and with a serious debate on principles and pragmatic considerations, all nice and neat and legal and respectful of the Constitution, and respectful of our brief flirtation in this country with limited government before we just chucked principle and the Constitution in the dust bin for the sake of expediency!