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The Wrong Stuff

Posted by michael on from the because-it's-there dept.

b00le writes "The New York Review of Books has a trenchant piece, The Wrong Stuff by the great Steven Weinberg, arguing against the utility of manned spaceflight, which he feels has a largely political or sentimental function. He adds: '...I have taken the President's space initiative seriously. That may be a mistake.' Even so, his argument is detailed and rich in facts, particularly the nasty economic kind."

6 of 668 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Damn straight... by lazy_arabica · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    I don't know if would be as fascinating as space exploration, but it would surely be cheaper. Are all US people so rich that their government can spend billions in spacecrafts ?

  2. Re:Mistake?!? by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think it's better to take everything that Bush says seriously.

    Hitler wasn't taken seriously either and he turned out to be a great danger to the world.

    I know, it's an unfair comparison, but still valid.

    --
    This is the sig that says NI (again)
  3. Mod it. by Scholasticus · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Steven Weinberg's article should be modded -1, Flamebait.

  4. Re:Damn straight... by Tassach · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    No, the US government financially rapes it's citizens to such an extent that they can afford funnel billions of dollars worth of contracts to their rich campaign supporters.

    --
    Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  5. Re:He's right by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Not to show disrespect to those losing their lives serving in the military, but is 500+ lives considered a major loss?
    Especially that the soldiers are paid to die.
  6. Re:Damn straight... by b-baggins · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Yes, we are. The US GDP is 10 TRILLION dollars. It would be much more if we didn't pay people about a trillion a year to be nonproductive.

    Our wealth is the number one reason the rest of the world hates us. Our ability to kick their butts to Mars if we so chose is number two. The fact that we don't demonstrates we are morally superior to them and is reason number three.

    --
    You can tell a great deal about the character of a man by observing those who hate him.