NASA Announces Bake Sale Fundraiser

[Andy Chalk]

It's worth pointing out that the US government is budgeting $851 billion for "security spending" in FY2013. (http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederalbudget/p/military_budget.htm)

In other words, for considerably less than half of one percent of the military budget, these scientific endeavours could continue unimpeded. Are there hungry people living on the streets? Are millions of Americans without medical coverage? Are there countless other things the US could be doing do address shortfalls in its domestic situation? Absolutely. But what does that have to do with the prioritization of bombs over knowledge?

 

[orangeapples]

knowing how some fund raisers go, some cop is gonna show up and shut down that bake sale operation because NASA couldn't afford the $200 temporary food server's permit... Well, I guess as long as NASA doesn't have a lemonade stand they should be okay.

 

[Andy Chalk]

I wish I'd posted that video of Dr. Tyson. I love that man.

 

[shado_temple]

Good. Regardless of whether you want to raise taxes or cut defense spending, there's a 15 trillion dollar debt that needs to be brought into reign and NASA's notorious for overbudgetting and wasting money, second to the military in that sense. Cut them both.

The NASA budget is currently sitting at .4% of the federal budget. I'm sure trimming that down will definitely reign in that $15 trillion deficit. Hell, as the boisterous Dr. Tyson mentioned in the video earlier in this thread, the recent bank bailouts had a monetary value greater than the entire NASA running budget for all of its 53 years of operation. Yes, there's been occasional history of the program going needlessly over budget, but for the inspiration that the Apollo and Shuttle programs gave to future scientists and engineers of the US (myself included), along with the countless scientific discoveries and advancements that have come out of their work, I'm pretty sure they're worth the less-than-half of a penny that's coming out of your tax dollar.

There's actually a petition [https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/least-double-nasa%E2%80%99s-annual-budget-one-penny-every-government-dollar-spent/WHRSzLRj] out on the White House's petition page to get NASA's yearly budget to one penny on the tax dollar. Sure, it may not actually get anything more than a statement from the Obama administration (as many of the other petitions have), but getting a large number of signatures for it will at least prove that there are people out there who want to see the US get into space exploration once more, without the need of a Cold War hanging over our heads to fund it.

I wish I'd posted that video of Dr. Tyson. I love that man.

As do I. I'm currently reading his new book, "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier", which is both getting me excited for what the future holds and frustrating the hell out of me as to why it may never happen. I'd definitely recommend it if you're remotely interested in any of this.

 

[Richardplex]

Come on guys, stop telling America to cut its military budget. It isn't that high...

(the 2011 one is basically the same, I just can't find it because I'm terrible at googling).

 

[A Raging Emo]

Just how many people should lose their entitlement to medical care to pay for Mars exploration? Guys in case you haven't noticed the there is the biggest recession in 80 years going on and therefore you have to cut your cloth to suit your purse. I think it would have been more effective to use kickstarter for some projects, say funding one of the instrument packages.




Am I the only one thinking of Howard Wolowitz?

Why not cut the military first, that way the public won't be affected.

I haven't read the rest of the posts, so I don't know if I've been ninja'd, but...

By cutting Military Funding to much, like a lot of people think is a good idea, you actually create unemployment. You have to remember that Military Funding doesn't just build weapons and bombs and vehicles - it also pays our salaries, and buys us food, and shelters and clothes us... I'd actually argue that the majority of Military Funding goes straight to the Soldiers, rather than the manufacturers.

On Topic: I also can't believe everyone here believes we need a reason to send Robots or People into space. Simple curiosity should be enough of a reason for it.

 

[Avayu]

Just how many people should lose their entitlement to medical care to pay for Mars exploration? Guys in case you haven't noticed the there is the biggest recession in 80 years going on and therefore you have to cut your cloth to suit your purse. I think it would have been more effective to use kickstarter for some projects, say funding one of the instrument packages.




Am I the only one thinking of Howard Wolowitz?

Why not cut the military first, that way the public won't be affected.

I haven't read the rest of the posts, so I don't know if I've been ninja'd, but...

By cutting Military Funding to much, like a lot of people think is a good idea, you actually create unemployment. You have to remember that Military Funding doesn't just build weapons and bombs and vehicles - it also pays our salaries, and buys us food, and shelters and clothes us... I'd actually argue that the majority of Military Funding goes straight to the Soldiers, rather than the manufacturers.

On Topic: I also can't believe everyone here believes we need a reason to send Robots or People into space. Simple curiosity should be enough of a reason for it.

Then only cut the some parts of military spending that go into the famous military-industrial complex. That would probably still be enough to fund NASA. And you know what the funny thing is? That probably wouldn't create all that much unemployment in that sector, either, because lets face it, the same companies, the same engineers, that build weapons could also build the tools of human advancement into space. The only difference is in where those rockets go.

 

[Cpu46]

It was either scrub cars or scrub the mission. They chose rightly.

Seriously for all that they do NASA is one of the most criminally underfunded departments on the national budget.

Who the fuck let Bill Nye stop doing television?
"TESTIFY DR.T!"

We need Nye and Tyson to do a TV show together. I would watch that every day!

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I look away for a month and NASA gets cut again? God [censored] damnit.

Good. Regardless of whether you want to raise taxes or cut defense spending, there's a 15 trillion dollar debt that needs to be brought into reign and NASA's notorious for overbudgetting and wasting money, second to the military in that sense. Cut them both.

Not really. They're more notorious for not getting their money in the first place. Over budgeting on a negative budget is like drowning yourself in a drop of water.

Just how many people should lose their entitlement to medical care to pay for Mars exploration? Guys in case you haven't noticed the there is the biggest recession in 80 years going on and therefore you have to cut your cloth to suit your purse. I think it would have been more effective to use kickstarter for some projects, say funding one of the instrument packages.

Am I the only one thinking of Howard Wolowitz?

Rank in Funding: Department

12th:NASA
11th:Justice
10th:Transportation
9th:Agriculture
8th:Energy
7th:Homeland Security
6th:Housing and Urban Development
5th:Veterans Affairs
4th:State and Other International Programs
3rd:Education
2nd:Health and Human Services (Medicare & Medicaid)
1stefense

Yea, Looks like NASA is gonna take all that Medicare away. Look its only 10 ranks behind in funding! Good lord somebody stop it before it takes all the money away!
Seriously for all that they do NASA is one of the most criminally underfunded departments on the national budget.

You're my hero.

Sorry, he's my hero.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

I simply don't understand the cuts. The united states maybe facing a recession, but when you compare NASAS percentage of the budget and NASAS gigantic fucking importance to the image and morale of the united states not to mention the importance in science (Remember that, science? That thing we've used to accomplish absolutely fucking everything?) it's absolutely not worth it.

We maybe facing a storm but the answer is to move FORWARD, Not stand still and wait for the wind to pass.

 

[Xan Krieger]

It's worth pointing out that the US government is budgeting $851 billion for "security spending" in FY2013. (http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederalbudget/p/military_budget.htm)

In other words, for considerably less than half of one percent of the military budget, these scientific endeavours could continue unimpeded. Are there hungry people living on the streets? Are millions of Americans without medical coverage? Are there countless other things the US could be doing do address shortfalls in its domestic situation? Absolutely. But what does that have to do with the prioritization of bombs over knowledge?

Can't threaten the right of the republicans to kill foreigners and harass our own citizens now can we? This country was built on the ideals of killing everyone who isn't American while we pay people to touch our balls at the airport. [/massive sarcasm]
Seriously, America, y u no get your damn priorities in order? I'm so ashamed of my country sometimes.

 

[Blind Sight]

Good. Regardless of whether you want to raise taxes or cut defense spending, there's a 15 trillion dollar debt that needs to be brought into reign and NASA's notorious for overbudgetting and wasting money, second to the military in that sense. Cut them both.

The NASA budget is currently sitting at .4% of the federal budget. I'm sure trimming that down will definitely reign in that $15 trillion deficit. Hell, as the boisterous Dr. Tyson mentioned in the video earlier in this thread, the recent bank bailouts had a monetary value greater than the entire NASA running budget for all of its 53 years of operation. Yes, there's been occasional history of the program going needlessly over budget, but for the inspiration that the Apollo and Shuttle programs gave to future scientists and engineers of the US (myself included), along with the countless scientific discoveries and advancements that have come out of their work, I'm pretty sure they're worth the less-than-half of a penny that's coming out of your tax dollar.

And I'm not necessarily arguing that other programs shouldn't be cut, but NASA has been used by politicians for years as a cheap way to protect poor quality goods in their districts through funding. Hear me out: politicians are offered lobby money by local industries that construct parts for the space program in their area regardless of the quality of their goods. As a result they vote for continued NASA funding which then flows back into their local industry, with the politicians receiving a nice cheque for their efforts (or hold a share in the company). A good example was Colorado rep. Edward Perlmutter's push to have the Orion project developed as quickly as possible. Of course he didn't let on that he had a large investment in Lockheed Martin, the company that produces the Orion. This kind of conflicted funding is terrible. It's one of the worst forms of corrupt governmental corporatism and has lead to NASA using inferior products for things such as heat shielding. Its made space travel more dangerous and has also severely undercut innovations in material production through favouritism. It's produced a cycle jerk of money rather then an actually effective institution and I'd argue for massive reform before they see a larger budget. Just because something is a small part of the budget doesn't mean it shouldn't be cut if it's overly bloated and being used by corrupt individuals. If the exploitative use of funding by legislators ended I'd be much more likely to support it, but as of now it's a pet project and a cash cow to them. Reform funding to promote more innovation, we'll see a more effective and efficient NASA and I'll gladly argue for a larger budget.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Come on guys, stop telling America to cut its military budget. It isn't that high...

(the 2011 one is basically the same, I just can't find it because I'm terrible at googling).

Awesome chart, didn't know the UK was that high on the list? lol. Thing is noone is going to attack America, not in a "county vs country" way anyway. With technology the way it is America would see any planes etc coming from miles away and i doubt any attacking force would even reach the beach before being blown apart.

Just seems stupid spending that amount of money on defence against no specific threat while letting your own people die and suffer over something as healthcare. As one person said, judge a country not by strength but by how they treat their poor, sick and needy. For a country heavy on christian religion its funny how the major points of that religion are totally ignored.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

Meanwhile, the government spends a few more billion dollars on some shitty F-35s.

I believe the total is way past $1 Trillion for that disaster.

OT: Since when did people make $30million by selling cakes and washing cars??

Edit - OH I'M SORRY, I MEANT $300 million!!!

 

[mxfox408]

Well the commander and chief needs the NASA money for his weekly vacation budget, not to mention his re-election campaign, so that explains why he cut it.

 

[Cpu46]

Just how many people should lose their entitlement to medical care to pay for Mars exploration? Guys in case you haven't noticed the there is the biggest recession in 80 years going on and therefore you have to cut your cloth to suit your purse. I think it would have been more effective to use kickstarter for some projects, say funding one of the instrument packages.

Am I the only one thinking of Howard Wolowitz?

Rank in Funding: Department

12th:NASA
11th:Justice
10th:Transportation
9th:Agriculture
8th:Energy
7th:Homeland Security
6th:Housing and Urban Development
5th:Veterans Affairs
4th:State and Other International Programs
3rd:Education
2nd:Health and Human Services (Medicare & Medicaid)
1stefense

Yea, Looks like NASA is gonna take all that Medicare away. Look its only 10 ranks behind in funding! Good lord somebody stop it before it takes all the money away!
Seriously for all that they do NASA is one of the most criminally underfunded departments on the national budget.

You're my hero.

Sorry, he's my hero.

Thats fine. He is one of my heroes as well. The guy is a hilarious, brilliant, and respectable man.

 

[Da Orky Man]

snip

No one mentioned cutting medicare, they could increase taxs on high income earners to be higher then on middle class earners or cut the defense budget that is bigger then the next few nations defence budgets combined.

Why not cut the defense budget and raise taxes?

I would advise against cutting medicare, until a much better plan for taking care of senior citizens medical needs is formed. I know I can't afford to cover my parents medical bills.

Good. Regardless of whether you want to raise taxes or cut defense spending, there's a 15 trillion dollar debt that needs to be brought into reign and NASA's notorious for overbudgetting and wasting money, second to the military in that sense. Cut them both.

It's worth pointing out that the US government is budgeting $851 billion for "security spending" in FY2013. (http://useconomy.about.com/od/usfederalbudget/p/military_budget.htm)

In other words, for considerably less than half of one percent of the military budget, these scientific endeavours could continue unimpeded. Are there hungry people living on the streets? Are millions of Americans without medical coverage? Are there countless other things the US could be doing do address shortfalls in its domestic situation? Absolutely. But what does that have to do with the prioritization of bombs over knowledge?

Something interesting you may want to see:

NASAs budget compared to the US military. Yeah, it's that much of a difference.

 

[MetalGenocide]

NASA can keep their moon cookies. I don't want to end up like Cave Johnson.