You know, attacking how the tax funds are spent really doesn't do squat to stop the taxation, which is presumeably a goal we all hold in common here. You've already stipulated that you don't care if the space program is beneficial or not, so then why belittle it? If you put half the effort into reducing taxation as you do in bitching about the Space program, we might actually be able to get a politcal movement going that could effect some positive changes.
In a perfect libertarian world, the Federal gov't. wouldn't tax us, and it wouldn't spend money on Foreign Aid, Welfare, Education, Housing and Urban Renewal, Art, Science, the Space Program, or the Helium Fund. I yearn for such a day, even though I'm a big fan of science, Space exploration, and occasionally, helium.
But bashing the folks who are currently receiving the funding and are doing something more useful than polishing hubcaps isn't going to get us any closer to that dream. Your sentiments for a smaller, less expensive government are spot on, but your actions are counter-productive toward that end.
Lastly, your remarks about P_W's education and intelligence are so far removed from reality that it would take a space probe to find out where you are coming from. That was yet another immature, uncalled for, and counter-productive action on your part.
If you really want a smaller, less intrusive and expensive government, then focus your efforts on helping the rest of us who are interested in the same thing achieve that lofty goal, and quit bitching and moaning about every little thing that you don't see as being valuable to you.
Or are you all talk, no action?
Good point. Think of all the dope that could have been purchased with the money that went into the Columbia.