Mars: Are we wasting time and money?

[harry]

G'day

Are we wasting time and money on Mars. Should we spend the money on the poor?

Should we be playing with big toys.

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Image Gallery
http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/

[Chris Peterson]

Are we wasting time and money on Mars.

No.

Should we spend the money on the poor?

Perhaps (or not, depending on your personal philosophy). But why would you assume that if we didn't spend the money on research, it would be spend on curing poverty? Nothing in our history suggests anything like that is likely. Perhaps the money spent on space research is actually an investment, with a return? After all, the money invested in the Apollo program has produced an economic return many times over. And don't forget, the money spent on space research isn't just loaded into a rocket and sent into outer space. It is spent here on Earth, and stimulates the economy, supports businesses, pays salaries.

[BMAONE23]

I guess the cure would be in education.

Teach the poor to become Rocket Scientists...Problem solved

[harry]

G'day from the land of ozzzz

Goes back to the saying:

Should we teach people how to fish or just give them the fish.

In order to advance MAN KIND one needs to waste money, time and energy and in some cases the life of some.

These are the stepping stones to scuccess and survival.

In time we will need to live somewhere out there.

BMAone23 is right either way, education is the key.

ooops I forgot about politics.

[northstar]

G'day

Are we wasting time and money on Mars. Should we spend the money on the poor?

Should we be playing with big toys.

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera Image Gallery
http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/

Definitely we should be spending more money on the poor, but it must be spent very carefully.

[northstar]

BMAone23 is right either way, education is the key.

Some people's natural gifts and talents are not suited to what is normally classified as education, Harry.

[BMAONE23]

It follows the same line as
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, Teach a man (how and where) to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life."

If you give a poor man a million dollars, he'll likely be rich for a month.
If you teach that same man how to make and invest that same million (without giving it to him), he'll likely be rich for life. (There is the caveat that he might be too lazy to do anything with the knowledge once it is given to him)

[northstar]

It follows the same line as
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, Teach a man (how and where) to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life."

If there are fish to be caught .. if the man or woman (fisher) is healthy and strong enough to fish .. if the fisher has the proper equipment .. if the fisher has or can find or make bait .. if the weather co-operates .. if a boat is available if a boat is needed .. if the water isn't turned off by the megacorporations hydro-electric dam .. if the corporate boats haven't beaten the hungry fisherman to the fish .. if if if

[BMAONE23]

It follows the same line as
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, Teach a man (how and where) to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life."

If there are fish to be caught .. if the man or woman (fisher) is healthy and strong enough to fish .. if the fisher has the proper equipment .. if the fisher has or can find or make bait .. if the weather co-operates .. if a boat is available if a boat is needed .. if the water isn't turned off by the megacorporations hydro-electric dam .. if the corporate boats haven't beaten the hungry fisherman to the fish .. if if if

SAY Northstar,
Something smells fishy...are you trying to bait me into an arguement or am I fishing in the wrong pond?

There are certainly alot of "ifs" involved but that would all be part of the "how and where" of teaching.


Even an armless man can fish (though baiting the hook by mouth might be undesireable)

[northstar]

It follows the same line as
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, Teach a man (how and where) to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life."

If there are fish to be caught .. if the man or woman (fisher) is healthy and strong enough to fish .. if the fisher has the proper equipment .. if the fisher has or can find or make bait .. if the weather co-operates .. if a boat is available if a boat is needed .. if the water isn't turned off by the megacorporations hydro-electric dam .. if the corporate boats haven't beaten the hungry fisherman to the fish .. if if if

SAY Northstar,
Something smells fishy...are you trying to bait me into an arguement or am I fishing in the wrong pond?

There are certainly alot of "ifs" involved but that would all be part of the "how and where" of teaching.


Even an armless man can fish (though baiting the hook by mouth might be undesireable)

Something smells fishy? Could be a bear's breath. What's standing behind your back?

[harry]

G'day from the land of ozzzz

Mate we are from the land of milk and honey and sandy golden beaches.

Send the people down here.

As for space travel, that is a path that needs to be taken at what ever costs.

Its called survival.