[darth]

NASA's share of the federal budget is similar to the Lewis and Clark expedition. Exploration has always been a national goal because it leads to growth. The Solar System is the New World without the natives. Our rivals understand that.

[Arcy]

...Exploration has always been a national goal because it leads to growth. Yea, groath in the amount of wasteful spending. We can explore more on less money if we let private companies do the exploring. Besides, there is no real possibility that humans will ever live on Mars or any other planet. Put down the crack pipe.

The Solar System is the New World without the natives. Our rivals understand that. Then let them do the populating on Mars. The rest of us will do just fine right here in the environment in which we were DESIGNED to live.