There are two separate threads now that in my mind are related, but about which I have mixed thoughts. It relates to whether countries and individuals are inward looking or outward looking.

First, let me admit that I love things like the lunar program, the shuttle and the SR-71. I go to IMAX to see films about them. Those things are, of course, pretty darn expensive. Yet, to my mindset, if you are not trying to go faster, further, higher or deeper, you are going to implode. My work requires that mindset. I have worked for a company or two that were inward looking and it just felt all wrong. I like me much better when I am curious what is over the horizon, not worried about office politics.

My grandmother thought that all those fun things were a bunch of junk and we should focus on helping those in our country in need. Dev made a comment in a post that he will probably end up bankrupt because of one illness. I also have to agree with him on that. Unless I am lucky and am healthy up until a week before dying, I will end up bankrupt. It is my fate as an American.

The problem then becomes others. Like the sleezoid illegal Mexican that crashed into the tree close to Yoli's place. Or the sleezoid Americans that I posted in answer to her that are drug addled or just plain dumber than dirt. I do not go to IMAX to see a film about that illegal getting his leg set or the White American female that went out to buy drugs while leaving her 3 year old in the hands of her 12 year old who was passed out drunk.

Is there a balance there where I can still have my inspiration, yet Dev and I do not end up broke? I am not sure I am wise enough to figure that one out.

Any takers?

Remote monitoring of medical patients in hopsitals is a product of the space program. That's how the land based controllers monitor the health of the astronauts.

Why space shuttle vs health care? I think the better choice would have been health care or Iraq war. The trillion dollars it's costing us could have been better spent on health care.

Space shuttle vs. Health Care is a specious, and extremely dangerous argument. The space program is a blip on the Federal Budget. If the space program were canceled today, the politicians would make that money disappear down a pork barrel rat hole in the blink of an eye and I guarantee health care and every other worthwhile purpose that we look to the government for would see no benefit whatsoever from it.

There are private space launch systems just coming on line, demonstrating that the space program has been like any other government development program, such as building a trans-continental railroad, or rural electrification, where Federal money blazes a trail for private industry to capitalize upon. Ending it now would hand the chance to make further breakthroughs in space technology, and the rights to all the spin off benefits, to the Japanese, Chinese, and Indians, cause the loss of one more area of engineering and production expertise from our economy, and accelerate the decline of this nation from the preemminent world economic power to an economic backwater that cannot handle its own earthly, domestic problems.

U.S. Investments

Space Program - an investment in our future.

Healthcare - money well spent

Iraq War - money into the toilet. Who forgot to flush?

Thanks for the comments. The Iraq War was not mentioned because I have heard this argument for decades.