"R" == Rich  <someone@somewhere.com> writes:

R> In infinite wisdom Joseph Lazio answered:

R> How much debt are you willing to leave to your children to search
R> for SETI?

Please compare the Government budgets (...) for the defense-related
activities to those for SETI-related activities.

R> The problem of govt by debt remains.

Agreed.

If you'd find it easier, you may simply use astronomy research in
place of SETI-related activities.

R> You don't seem to be able to identify the problem.

R> And your logic is along the lines of 'others are stealing the
R> public blind, so it's OK if we steal some too'. I doubt you see any
R> problems with your attitude either.

For the record, I'm a deficit hawk.  However, I also know how to
appreciate the scale of the problem.  Again, even simple arithmetic
serves to illustrate the basic problem.  In fiscal year 2002, the US
Government spent about 10% of its budget or about $200G (billion) on
"physical, human, and community development," which includes a whole
slew of programs, of which astronomy is a small fraction.  In that
fiscal year, the deficit was, coincidentally, about $200G.  In this
fiscal year, the deficit is projected to be about $500G.  In other
words, you can eliminate essentially all domestic discretionary
spending and you still can't balance the budget.  The 1% or so that
goes to astronomy funding doesn't make a difference.  It's like trying
to save pennies while throwing away tens of dollars.

-- 
Lt. Lazio, HTML police   | e-mail: jlazio@patriot.net
No means no, stop rape.  | http://patriot.net/%7Ejlazio/
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