Posted on 07/22/2005 4:03:38 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
CAPTIOL HILL The House has overwhelmingly endorsed President Bush's vision to send people back to the moon and eventually on to Mars. House members passed a bill to set NASA policy for the next two years.
The vote -- 383-to-15 -- came after a debate in which lawmakers stressed their commitment not just to Bush's ambitious space exploration plans but also to traditional NASA programs such as science and aeronautics.
The measure permits but does not explicitly endorse retiring the space shuttle fleet by 2010, as the administration would like to do. It directs the agency to launch a new crew exploration vehicle as close to that date as feasible.
The bill advanced as the space agency tries to rebound from the Columbia disaster in 2003 with the launch of the space shuttle Discovery next Tuesday.
The way this world is headed, we're going to need a backup to ensure the survival of the human race -- of America, at least.
America shall never wholly die, for America is an idea, not just a place.
I'm glad of it but really shocked that they did this -- especially shocked at the strength of the yea votes. I wonder what the Senatorial mindset is on this.
It was gore's idea
These projects are always military, behind the scenes. That's why the big support.
I of course support them for military and science.
Better than paying for welfare mommas and foreign aid for despots that hate us.
Maybe, but why is the U.S. Government still funding it?
Other than military purposes, government has no business using our tax dollars for research that could be done by university consortiums, the National Geographic Society, and private ventures such as http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/
Are you kidding me?!? With Republicans in charge in both branches? Our tax dollars are their money pot. The Senate will pass it as well and even more of our tax dollars will be wasted for 'research'
I do not consider it a waste of money to explore space.
I'll take a moment to name just one aspect of the many benefits reaped already:
spy satellites,
the information they've given our military,
the lives they've saved of our military pilots,
and the knowledge of how to deal, and where to strategically place emphases, in our foreign relations.
It is an absolute waste of money on unconstitutional spending. The X Prize has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that space exploration can be done by private industry. With benefits. The amount of money gained from allowing private citizens into space can be used to pay for even more exploration. It's called capitalism. Too bad Republicans and Democrats are too busy fully embracing socialist ventures
They are all space cadets.
Surely you jest. The Constitution does not say that only what it enumerates is legal. It does provide for powers not specifically listed in it. What do you define as the purpose of the Founders in creating Congress?
Are you a libertarian?
As a matter of fact it does. The Constitution is not an open list of rights of the government, it is the list of what specific rights the national government has. It is a document listing the limitations on the national government and nothing else.
It does provide for powers not specifically listed in it
Why yes it does.
Amendment XThis includes any programs, handouts, explorations, or anything else not specifically listed in the Constitution. Those powers belong to the states and the citizens of said states respectively.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
What do you define as the purpose of the Founders in creating Congress?
I don't know, you tell me
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.Sounds pretty specific to me...The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security. As the former periods will probably bear a small proportion to the latter, the State governments will here enjoy another advantage over the federal government. The more adequate, indeed, the federal powers may be rendered to the national defense, the less frequent will be those scenes of danger which might favor their ascendancy over the governments of the particular States.--Federalist #45
Are you a libertarian?
No, I am conservative. Something that may be foreign to Republicans. Especially those with pet projects they want the government to do for them. No offense but this includes about 90% of what the government currently does. The Framers were specific in what they expected the national government to do and what they expected the free market to do.
ME - * The Constitution does not say that only what it enumerates is legal
YOU - * As a matter of fact it does. The Constitution is not an open list of rights of the government, it is the list of what specific rights the national government has. It is a document listing the limitations on the national government and nothing else.
My sentence was inadequately worded for a reply to someone who wants to argue. What I didn't find the right words for, for you, is that the Constitution set up Congress as the legislating body to cover things not specifically made legal by the Constitution. I didn't think that a difficult concept to convey, but apparently it was.
Article IThe clause most used by liberals to justify the wasteful spending and departments never intended by the Framers. However, as pointed out, the Tenth Amendment limits this power and the papers of Madison were clear this power was to be limited.
Section 8
Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
I tend to agree ..... Burt Rutan and his like are the ones to really do it efficiently and quickly. I am a HUGH supporter of space exploration, but our beaurocratic government agencies are not going to get it done.
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