Collins and Lampson: Space Exploration Is Imperative to Innovation and Inspiration
Beyond the Politics: Space Exploration Is Imperative to Innovation and Inspiration, Eileen M. Collins and Nick Lampson for the Huffington Post
“As a nation, we must put politics aside to ensure that expanding the space frontier occupies a prominent place on our national agenda. We need strategic, adequately funded and aggressively paced programs to keep America at the summits of technical innovation and exploration.”
“… Unfortunately, we’ve begun to pull back, as though the nation can prosper without the kinds of strategic commitments that have historically assured us economic as well as intellectual return.”
Marc’s note: There’s nothing new in what Collins and Lampson write. Will Congress pay attention? Will this appeal to the public and cause some action? Call me cynical, but I don’t think Congress or the public are paying attention.
The Tea kettle Party will never help NASA until it is completely in the hands of the private sector, using government money without any oversight. It would be the epitome of social welfare. As a Congressman in the NASA/JSC area, Lampson worked very hard to work across the aisle and secure funding for NASA. He attempted to secure long term funding that would cross elections. Unfortunately he lost to Pete Olson who was more interested in partisan politics than working for NASA and his constituents. Steve Stockman isn’t much better.
No Congress will not pay attention (unless it’s something they want to hear), they are using NASA as an example
of how they are “making hard decisions on trimming the budget” while
they ignore other less important programs that get them re-elected. It’s all about getting re-elected and not about the future of this country.
By the way has anyone ever looked at the budget for the IRS…..
check it out sometime.