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You are aware inflation isn't a constant across all sectors of the economy correct? A better comparison would be to look at the Producer Price Index for the rel

You are aware inflation isn't a constant across all sectors of the economy correct? A better comparison would be to look at the Producer Price Index for the relevant industries. Additionally, NASA is legally obligated to use several subcontractor's who's prices have far outpaced inflation.

dnautics 13y ago
Additionally, NASA is legally obligated to use several subcontractor's who's prices have far outpaced inflation. Are you claiming this is a feature? This kid gave NASA his piggy bank as a donation. If NASA were to be rated alongside other charities by whoever - givewell, charity navigator - how well do you suppose it would look?
- quinnchr 13y ago
  No I'm not claiming it's a feature. It's a result of private enterprises lobbying for contracts, and the end result is legally mandated inefficiency.
  - kika 13y ago
    "legally mandated inefficiency" is "corruption" in 3 words, right?
jonhohle 13y ago
I was using inflation as a simple proxy for this discussion. My impression of the situation is that NASA directors are complaining that funding is in danger but at the same time increasing expenses on things which provide suboptimal returns. A kid falls for the bureaucratic script (a decrease in the rate of increase counts as a decrease in the budget) and sends what amounts to a significant portion of his personal net worth to help the floundering organization - which only has a _mere_ $18B this year (a revenue that would put it in the Fortune 150). In return, NASA has an astronaut call him (very cool), but taking the money from a kid is sleazy politics (imho). Meanwhile, companies like SpaceX, are spending across 10 years what NASA spends in 3 weeks. Of course what they are doing is at a vastly smaller scope, but their impact (and public perception), seems to be disproportionate to the investment. (Interestingly, about half of SpaceX's money has come from NASA.) I've signed the petition in my support of this young man who's trying to make a positive difference. That difference, however, doesn't come from budget increases, but from effective use of those resources.

dnautics 13y ago

Additionally, NASA is legally obligated to use several subcontractor's who's prices have far outpaced inflation. Are you claiming this is a feature? This kid gave NASA his piggy bank as a donation. If NASA were to be rated alongside other charities by whoever - givewell, charity navigator - how well do you suppose it would look?

quinnchr 13y ago
No I'm not claiming it's a feature. It's a result of private enterprises lobbying for contracts, and the end result is legally mandated inefficiency.
- kika 13y ago
  "legally mandated inefficiency" is "corruption" in 3 words, right?

jonhohle 13y ago

I was using inflation as a simple proxy for this discussion. My impression of the situation is that NASA directors are complaining that funding is in danger but at the same time increasing expenses on things which provide suboptimal returns. A kid falls for the bureaucratic script (a decrease in the rate of increase counts as a decrease in the budget) and sends what amounts to a significant portion of his personal net worth to help the floundering organization - which only has a _mere_ $18B this year (a revenue that would put it in the Fortune 150). In return, NASA has an astronaut call him (very cool), but taking the money from a kid is sleazy politics (imho). Meanwhile, companies like SpaceX, are spending across 10 years what NASA spends in 3 weeks. Of course what they are doing is at a vastly smaller scope, but their impact (and public perception), seems to be disproportionate to the investment. (Interestingly, about half of SpaceX's money has come from NASA.) I've signed the petition in my support of this young man who's trying to make a positive difference. That difference, however, doesn't come from budget increases, but from effective use of those resources.