[apillar]

Like it or not our elected representatives have decided that it is in the public interest to spend money on space exploration (and just about everything else in existence).

While I'm, in principle, against wealth transfer to every program in existence, the political reality today is that the only difference between the most conservative member of congress and the most liberal is how much the rate of spending growth will increase, not wether we should be spending the money or not.

With that in mind, I would much rather see money spent for space exploration than for shopping carts for the homeless, or sex change operations for prisoners, or free viagra for rich old men.

At least with space exploration we have some sense of accomplishment and something to show for our spending, even if it is only "dust and rocks". Also, I think with China quickly become a major space player an argument could be made that space exploration may soon be a national security issue.

[DManA]

The fallacy of this logic is that Spending begets Spending. In order to get votes for money for NASA, promises of pork in another state are given. To solidify support for that pork, still more pork promises are made. And on and on and on.

At least with space exploration we have some sense of accomplishment and something to show for our spending, even if it is only "dust and rocks".