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I don't know why taxpayers should have to pay for the search for E.T.. That's a hard sell. Probably not what the founders had in mind when they gave the governm
by rosybox 7y ago
I don't know why taxpayers should have to pay for the search for E.T.. That's a hard sell. Probably not what the founders had in mind when they gave the government the power to take money out of the pockets of the country's citizenry. I'm all for the social contract, investing in infrastructure, and making sure everyone has affordable housing and medicine, but this is a tough fucking sell. Get some rich scifi enthusiast to fund a grant. Some people just see the country's coffers as a free for all for any crazy idea. That money belongs to the public it came from and should be used to the benefit of its people with utmost seriousness it deserves. What the government can spend its money on is a zero-sum gane and any dollars we can invest into kids getting better meals or finding a biomarker for detecting ALS would be better spent than figuring out if UFOs are real.
- pmoriarty 7y agoYou know what's a tragic waste for me? Most of the US military budget, its spending on the War on Drugs, its tax cuts to billionaires and corporate welfare. Let's cut those in half and talk again about SETI, which I would be happy to fund a hundred times over if it meant less killing, fewer unjust incarcerations for victimless crimes, more economic equality, and less concentration of money and power in the hands of the elites.
- Mirioron 7y agoI think it isn't so easy to say that what the US military does is a waste of your money. A lot of US foreign policy is about "free trade" that's beneficial to the US. If you were to cut off the US military then you'd likely have consequences for global trade. Perhaps you're right that it's a waste of your money, but I think that this is not at all a straightforward conclusion. Eg imagine if Iran just decided to stop oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz with their military. How would you deal with this without a sizable military yourself? Edit: or imagine that some country decides that they don't like goods related to the US going through Panama so they decide to occupy it. It's not US territory, but the loss of that will harm the US economy.
- opless 7y agoYou mean like ... South Korea, New Zeland, and the UK who are already there? Seriously, the USA aren't the only armed forces that patrol the area.
- bigyikes 7y agoAre you prepared to rely on foreign governments protecting your interests? And what happens if those countries you mentioned adopt the same mindset?
- opless 7y agoI'm quite happy with the two UK Navy frigates patrolling the area. The UK has a significantly smaller defence budget than the USA does. Which kinda proves my point.
- Mirioron 7y agoAnd the UK can do that because the UK is willing to rely on the US. Now that relations with the US are straining in the West other western countries are increasing their military spending/cooperation. (Eg EU army.)
- opless 7y agoSorry, but according to news sources a coalition of non-US vessels are doing the bulk of patrols out there in the strait of Hormuz whilst the US is only seemingly wanting to lend 'command and control' style support. Elsewhere the UK assists the US in Syria and Afghanistan. It's not the other way around. But feel free to tell me how great the american way of doing things is. What with fantastic provision of basic healthcare for its citizens, and sensible gun control oh yes and affordable education.
- Mirioron 7y agoIt's not about who patrols the Strait of Hormuz. It's about who and what backs them up. If the Iranians decide to sink the frigates there (to do their blockade) then they can expect a visit from a US carrier group. If there is no force that can be projected there then it becomes about who can move more stuff there. Seeing as that's literally next to Iran, Iran is going to win. Look at Crimea if you want an example of what can happen if there's no force that can back you up.
- CryptoPunk 7y agoHow can a tax cut be part of a budget? The budget constitutes tax dollars spent, not foregone.
- asimovfan 7y agoThere is the slight probability of all problems being solved if we find some aliens :)
- RobertoG 7y agoYes, unfortunately, there is also the slight probability of being eat by predators if some aliens find us.
- xvilka 7y agoAnd a big probability of creating a lot of new problems (e.g. a "dark forest" theory). In my opinion, these money are better spent on any other applied or fundamental research.