Debates
14 Jul 15
The post that was quoted here has been removedYou're off-topic, of course.
I hardly ever visit the Science Forum and was not aware there was a thread there.
Money spent on space exploration is sometimes controversial. A fair amount of the populace want such programs ended and the money spent on Earth. Surely you are aware of these facts. For example:
Despite these positive opinions of the space program, just a two-in-ten Americans in the 2012 GSS survey said that the U.S. spends too little on space exploration. Four-in-ten believed the current spending was adequate, while three-in-ten believed further cuts should be made to the program. Instead, Americans strongly preferred increased spending on programs closer to home, including education (76😵, public health (59😵, and developing alternative energy sources (59😵.
Currently, total funding for NASA accounts for 0.5% of the federal government’s budget. Of that funding, the space exploration program accounts for roughly 22% of NASA’s budget.
The disinclination to spend money on space exploration has already had an impact when it comes to ambitious projects like space colonization. In 2012, the NASA budget took a 20% hit to its planetary science programs, severely crippling NASA’s Mars exploration program.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/23/americans-keen-on-space-exploration-less-so-on-paying-for-it/
So stop hijacking the thread.
15 Jul 15
Originally posted by no1marauderYes indeed, I am one that always thought Kennedy wanting to spent all that money to go to the moon was BS. 😏
You're off-topic, of course.
I hardly ever visit the Science Forum and was not aware there was a thread there.
Money spent on space exploration is sometimes controversial. A fair amount of the populace want such programs ended and the money spent on Earth. Surely you are aware of these facts. For example:
Despite these positive opinions of the s ...[text shortened]... 3/americans-keen-on-space-exploration-less-so-on-paying-for-it/
So stop hijacking the thread.
The Near Genius
The post that was quoted here has been removedSpeaking of being dishonest: it was Finnegan on p. 3 of that thread who started discussing the US Founding Fathers and their philosophy claiming that it was "white supremacist". The relevance of that to the shooting seems fairly straightforward. The relevance of Locke's philosophy to there's seems also straightforward.
As the OP of this thread shows, I was not really interested in discussing the scientific details of the mission so there was no need for me to go meandering into a forum I don't think I've ever posted in. If people want to read the thread there and not here, they should. But you should not have the poor form to hijack this thread.
15 Jul 15
Originally posted by no1marauderYes I thought it was relevant at the time. A relevant link to the OP in this thread is to question why all those scientists in the video are so frenziedly waving their childish little USA flags. I wonder which political commissar distributed these for the occasion? This excessive and I think inappropriate demonstration of nationalist fervour is politically poisonous on many levels. It would be nice to think of the Pluto flypass as an achievement for humanity or for science, but as an achievement for American imperialism and never ending expansion it is more chilling and no longer an inclusive event - one in which we might all take pride and joy. Those of us who are not members of the American "commonwealth" are simply reminded of American power. Scientists ought to learn to stay away from political ideology and not be used for nationalist propaganda purposes.
Speaking of being dishonest: it was Finnegan on p. 3 of that thread who started discussing the US Founding Fathers and their philosophy claiming that it was "white supremacist". The relevance of that to the shooting seems fairly straightforward. The relevance of Locke's philosophy to there's seems also straightforward.
As the OP of this thread shows, ...[text shortened]... ad there and not here, they should. But you should not have the poor form to hijack this thread.
Originally posted by no1marauderSome people have a deep emotional need to find ways to bash the US as often as possible. Seem emotionally immature to me.
Oh, shut up. No Nazis using slave labor were involved in the New Horizons project as far as I'm aware.
Genghis Khan killed a lot of people; that's about as relevant to the OP as your post.
15 Jul 15
Originally posted by finneganYes the imperialist Americans are going to seize Pluto and enslave its indigenous inhabitants.
Yes I thought it was relevant at the time. A relevant link to the OP in this thread is to question why all those scientists in the video are so frenziedly waving their childish little USA flags. I wonder which political commissar distributed these for the occasion? This excessive and I think inappropriate demonstration of nationalist fervour is politically ...[text shortened]... learn to stay away from political ideology and not be used for nationalist propaganda purposes.
In actuality it's a harmless little display that won't hurt the political winds when the funding request to continue the mission into the Kuiper Belt comes up.
Originally posted by no1marauderThe harmless display of the national flag will, as you say, have political resonance. One example will be when the next funding request arises. Another will be in the way people from other countries and cultures perceive the nationalist message. This is a display of American technological mastery and power. The notion of expanding the US to incorporate Pluto is obviously symbolic and without practical implications in our lifetimes. However, politics is all about symbols.
Yes the imperialist Americans are going to seize Pluto and enslave its indigenous inhabitants.
In actuality it's a harmless little display that won't hurt the political winds when the funding request to continue the mission into the Kuiper Belt comes up.
When you object to me commenting on this political display, then bear in mind that you have confirmed it is a political display. Does that matter? It matters if you learn to realize that the way outsiders see American nationalist displays is quite unlike the way Americans perceive them and that is one of the benefits of a multi national forum. You get to hear from people who are not so soaked in your ideology that, like you, they cannot even see it.
A good rule of thumb is this - never trust people who wave flags in the wrong context. That is the path to fascism.
Originally posted by finneganIt's funny that I don't have this huge problem with flag waving when the Euros or other nations do it after they score a goal (which admittedly happens rarely) in the silly sport called soccer.
The harmless display of the national flag will, as you say, have political resonance. One example will be when the next funding request arises. Another will be in the way people from other countries and cultures perceive the nationalist message. This is a display of American technological mastery and power. The notion of expanding the US to incorporate Pl ...[text shortened]... is this - never trust people who wave flags in the wrong context. That is the path to fascism.
Your childish distaste for Americans leads you to ridiculous extremes.
Originally posted by no1marauderAs I said, the question is always about the context in which national flags are waved. I do not question there is a place for them and games played by national teams are typically regarded as a good natured context where flags play their part.
It's funny that I don't have this huge problem with flag waving when the Euros or other nations do it after they score a goal (which admittedly happens rarely) in the silly sport called soccer.
Your childish distaste for Americans leads you to ridiculous extremes.
I also did not say I hugely objected to the pride Americans take in their technological achievements. What I did say was that it would be a good thing for Americans to be alert to the political nature of flag waving. In this context, there is no doubt that the pictures would be seen around the world and as such, the scientists might, in an ideal world, have questioned if the national flag was the right accompaniment to a celebration that would ideally be shared by all.
Even then, the only real problem I have is that you can't see the point.