I have no issue with adventurers climbing Mount Everest or joy riding through space on their own dime. My issue is their joy ride provides me little compensation that could not be gained by using unmanned vehicles.
If China decides to continue to send manned missions, I hope they see the deep money pit in less time than it took the U.S.
I doubt we would still be living in caves. The resources would run out eventually, and humans would be required to find new ways to acquire their necesities. The drive to adventure didn't get us out of the stone age, the ability to provide for our necessities did.
You are correct in stating we haven't done much with human space flight. It only provides for an expensive form of entertainment for the general populace. The fact that the information is more special because humans are involved does not provide argument for the use of public funds to fulfill personal accounts of space.
Lastly, the Mars Rovers are still gaining press coverage after 6 months work. Whereas the president's empty promises have only floundered in bureaucracy.
I do not believe that humanity is as weak as you make it out to be. If nothing else, we know how to survive. If worse came to worse and a meteor were on path to strike earth, then massive investments should be spent on saving earth, not providing for the continuance of a 100/6,000,000,000 human lives. If the monetary incentive is available for human flight, then let businesses take up the charge. Using funds which are meant to be used "to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare" (to quote the US Constitution), is morally unjustified.
I believe we have a natural tendency to "go", as you put it, but this drive does necesitate fulfillment. Humans have the ability to supress these yearnings with little consequence (for example, those who, by choice, do not reproduce). While providing for others to "go", and possibly prepare the way for myself to follow, may be a noble and far reaching goal. It serves no purpose to better the lives of the general public. Why should my energy be expended, to fulfill another person's desire?
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I'd hate to let the monkeys have all the fun.
I have no issue with adventurers climbing Mount Everest or joy riding through space on their own dime. My issue is their joy ride provides me little compensation that could not be gained by using unmanned vehicles.
If China decides to continue to send manned missions, I hope they see the deep money pit in less time than it took the U.S.
I doubt we would still be living in caves. The resources would run out eventually, and humans would be required to find new ways to acquire their necesities. The drive to adventure didn't get us out of the stone age, the ability to provide for our necessities did.
You are correct in stating we haven't done much with human space flight. It only provides for an expensive form of entertainment for the general populace. The fact that the information is more special because humans are involved does not provide argument for the use of public funds to fulfill personal accounts of space.
Lastly, the Mars Rovers are still gaining press coverage after 6 months work. Whereas the president's empty promises have only floundered in bureaucracy.
I do not believe that humanity is as weak as you make it out to be. If nothing else, we know how to survive. If worse came to worse and a meteor were on path to strike earth, then massive investments should be spent on saving earth, not providing for the continuance of a 100/6,000,000,000 human lives. If the monetary incentive is available for human flight, then let businesses take up the charge. Using funds which are meant to be used "to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare" (to quote the US Constitution), is morally unjustified.
I believe we have a natural tendency to "go", as you put it, but this drive does necesitate fulfillment. Humans have the ability to supress these yearnings with little consequence (for example, those who, by choice, do not reproduce). While providing for others to "go", and possibly prepare the way for myself to follow, may be a noble and far reaching goal. It serves no purpose to better the lives of the general public. Why should my energy be expended, to fulfill another person's desire?