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Except that scientists working on DARPA programs have also produced some technologies that have proven phenomenally useful to civilians such as the internet, co

Except that scientists working on DARPA programs have also produced some technologies that have proven phenomenally useful to civilians such as the internet, computer mice, GPS, Siri, etc.

HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
Still a relevant quote that makes you think about the costs of war, especially when you think about the fact that the person who said it being one of the planners for- and also talked to the soldiers who would participate in- D-Day.
sneak 7y ago
NASA put people on the moon and brought them back. They could have designed, launched, and operated GPS like they do Hubble and other satellites. It’s well within their expertise. We don’t need to accept massive DoD funding of violent undertakings that end up killing millions simply for the meager benefits we get as a side effect sometimes.
- microcolonel 7y ago
  They could develop GPS, but they didn't and wouldn't. The U.S. military commissioned and deployed GPS to configure the clocks and weapons systems required to hold off the hostile and ignorant powers of the world.
  - adamsea 7y ago
    Well until we create a more peaceful world we will not have the opportunity to find out. Also I don’t think Russia, China, Iran, etc, are any less ignorant than the US. Differently ignorant, maybe ;). Which is not to give those countries a pass.
    - sneak 7y ago
      The way you create a more peaceful world is by not providing funds to those who will use them to perform violence; i.e. the DoD.
      - microcolonel 7y ago
        You're assuming here that the U.S. military is the genesis of human violence, but the era of American military hegemony has been the most peaceful in human history. America has used the promise of force to uphold a status quo that most people can get on board with, one which doesn't really warrant revolt. The CCP probably will not accomplish anything like that, if we are ever so damned that they become the hegemon; in that case we might as well have just surrendered to the Nazis.

Except that scientists working on DARPA programs have also produced some technologies that have proven phenomenally useful to civilians such as the internet, computer mice, GPS, Siri, etc.

HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago

Still a relevant quote that makes you think about the costs of war, especially when you think about the fact that the person who said it being one of the planners for- and also talked to the soldiers who would participate in- D-Day.

sneak 7y ago

NASA put people on the moon and brought them back. They could have designed, launched, and operated GPS like they do Hubble and other satellites. It’s well within their expertise. We don’t need to accept massive DoD funding of violent undertakings that end up killing millions simply for the meager benefits we get as a side effect sometimes.

microcolonel 7y ago
They could develop GPS, but they didn't and wouldn't. The U.S. military commissioned and deployed GPS to configure the clocks and weapons systems required to hold off the hostile and ignorant powers of the world.
- adamsea 7y ago
  Well until we create a more peaceful world we will not have the opportunity to find out. Also I don’t think Russia, China, Iran, etc, are any less ignorant than the US. Differently ignorant, maybe ;). Which is not to give those countries a pass.
  - sneak 7y ago
    The way you create a more peaceful world is by not providing funds to those who will use them to perform violence; i.e. the DoD.
    - microcolonel 7y ago
      You're assuming here that the U.S. military is the genesis of human violence, but the era of American military hegemony has been the most peaceful in human history. America has used the promise of force to uphold a status quo that most people can get on board with, one which doesn't really warrant revolt. The CCP probably will not accomplish anything like that, if we are ever so damned that they become the hegemon; in that case we might as well have just surrendered to the Nazis.