Mondo Bungle

I was honestly skeptical that he'd do anything negatively outrageous/society stirring, but so far he definitely has done a lot of pretty un-choice things

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Frownland

I think we have a lot to learn from other planets. Space exploration could shatter our own laws of science if we find exceptions to them, which can advance us in ways we would have never thought possible. There's also the fact that the ability to get to space and explore it requires a lot of things that can be useful outside of astronomy. I was similarly wary of it years ago but have since come to support advancing science where possible.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

The Batlord

Considering the potential benefit to future population growth from colonization, and the increase in resources if mining other planets ever becomes economically feasible, I'd say space travel is probably one of the most worthwhile things we can invest money in, even if the benefits aren't felt for generations.

And just from a personal standpoint, putting all your efforts into pragmatic concerns like poverty and whatnot just feels too utilitarian. I'd rather be a little frivolous and allow our race to actually indulge its ****ing imagination.

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Frownland

I could eat.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

The Batlord

Duh. Spending money on things that give us actual culture will probably always seem like a criminally pointless waste of resources to someone below the poverty line, but if you went down that road then the entire music industry would likewise be a complete waste of time that could be better spent on doing things that tangibly improved the lives of others. Spending money on frivolous things that stick with the human race long after they are built or discovered or accomplished or chiseled (music, the Pyramids, the moon landing, etc) gives the human race "texture" and personality that makes the world more than just a depressing collection of Soviet housing blocks.

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Frownland

Like sending monkeys to space or what?

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland

Nah, I think that the ubiquitousness of the internet has done wonders for knowledge in the lower classes.

Meh, I've heard that conjectured but I was never really sold on the reasons because they count on things never changing and forget that there's more than dying to the death rate.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland

Now that's a damn hefty claim to be making.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Chula Vista

Too bad the money that'll be needed to fund it will come at the express of programs like preservation of the arts, school lunch programs, senior citizen medicaid and social security, and stuff like the EPA, national park preservation, federal infrustruce maintainence (bridges, roads, clean water , etc.), and supporting our allies when they are on the verge of being screwed over by one of our enemies, not to mention tax increases for you and me with less and less federal benefits.

Other than the possibility of finding proof of alien bacterial life under the surface of Europa, science has long ago proven there's nothing else to gain from our own solar system.

So awesome idea, let's gut the house we live in so a bunch of boys with expensive toys can see if there's a way to build a tree house in the swimming pool.

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“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well,
on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

Frownland

@Chula Please you would've been all over it if it was Obama's move.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.