[Robert_Paulson2]

... without a doubt.
the real problem with it from a conservative view, is the cost and who is going to pay if we do our destiny...

my question for the naysayers is, who is going to pay if we don't. It's there. We can do it. It's part of our explorer/creators nature as human beings. It's like an open 'job offer' laying on the table right in front of us.

What a way to invest human seed as capitol into the massive expanse and opportunity that lies before us.

[ambrose]

I agree with your spiritual view of exploration. It seems almost an abomination that this entire universe was created for us, yet we insist on living on what only amounts to a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things.

Having human outposts on other worlds is also an insurance policy against natural or man-made disasters that could wipe out the Earth.

The problem is that the most sheep care not one wit about anything beyond their own immediate existence. Issues like legacy or leaving something better for a future generation are alien to them. That's why Clintoon was so popular. He governed for today only, going only on the latest opinion polling.

Bush is taking a lot of hits off this proposal, and when we finally make it to Mars, he'll be long gone from public office, denying him the "glory"... Clintoon would never have proposed something like this (and well, he didn't).