The Ethics of Space Tourism?

[Clinton Huxley]

CES, saddling future generations with a massive tax burden. For shame.

Space programs must saddle future generations with a massive tax burden?

Private enterprise will build the space elevato?

Not necessarily and/or not exclusively.

But, public funding is not equivalent to saddling future generations with massive tax burden. One may fund things publicly in a why which does not massively burden future generations depending on the total amount that is spent.

Funding one thing means something else doesn't get funded. It's picking horses.

[Coito ergo sum]

Funding one thing means something else doesn't get funded. It's picking horses.

Yes, and there is plenty of stuff that is funded now that I'd be happy defunding. Again, a small part of the "Stimulus" money could have been used for these purposes, and at least they'd actually stimulate something -- like materials science, engineering, R&D, fuel technologies, rocket technologies, all sorts of support industries that surround the space industry, and education in the vital STEM areas.....

[Clinton Huxley]

Funding one thing means something else doesn't get funded. It's picking horses.

Yes, and there is plenty of stuff that is funded now that I'd be happy defunding. Again, a small part of the "Stimulus" money could have been used for these purposes, and at least they'd actually stimulate something -- like materials science, engineering, R&D, fuel technologies, rocket technologies, all sorts of support industries that surround the space industry, and education in the vital STEM areas.....

All good stuff. But the proponents of your favourite hedgehog-ladders and what have you are a strong lobby.

[Coito ergo sum]

Funding one thing means something else doesn't get funded. It's picking horses.

Yes, and there is plenty of stuff that is funded now that I'd be happy defunding. Again, a small part of the "Stimulus" money could have been used for these purposes, and at least they'd actually stimulate something -- like materials science, engineering, R&D, fuel technologies, rocket technologies, all sorts of support industries that surround the space industry, and education in the vital STEM areas.....

All good stuff. But the proponents of your favourite hedgehog-ladders and what have you are a strong lobby.

Yes, I heard $4.2 million of Stimulus money paid for this hedgehog ladder --



...worth every penny (or, pence to you Limeys).

[Clinton Huxley]

A hedgehog ladder is just a space elevator, for hedgehogs.

[Coito ergo sum]

A hedgehog ladder is just a space elevator, for hedgehogs.

The hedgehog is saddling our future generations!

[Clinton Huxley]

A hedgehog ladder is just a space elevator, for hedgehogs.

The hedgehog is saddling our future generations!

I hear the USA has to pay the Russians to get its hedgehogs out of ponds these days.....

[Faithfree]

I don't have the time or inclination to read the entire thread, but I'll assume we're voting on the benefits of sending Scrumple into space on a one way ST mission. Hey, I'll put money into that!

[Coito ergo sum]

A hedgehog ladder is just a space elevator, for hedgehogs.

The hedgehog is saddling our future generations!

I hear the USA has to pay the Russians to get its hedgehogs out of ponds these days.....

Well, the Russians have the only "heavy-lift" hedgehog ladder capable of getting the obese Merkin hedgehogs out of their ponds.

[Clinton Huxley]

A hedgehog ladder is just a space elevator, for hedgehogs.

The hedgehog is saddling our future generations!

I hear the USA has to pay the Russians to get its hedgehogs out of ponds these days.....

Well, the Russians have the only "heavy-lift" hedgehog ladder capable of getting the obese Merkin hedgehogs out of their ponds.

[pErvinalia]

It's not all about those of us who are breathing today.

Socialist.

It's the socialists who tend to say "this has nothing to do with me" -- "what do I care what happens to generations long after I'm gone..." -- interesting, that, eh?

Were I a socialist, that's what I'd be saying, too, most likely.

Bollocks.

Aren't you pro socialist? And didn't you just say you don't give a shit about people 100 years from now?

That's because of my existentialism, not my affinity for socialism. And even then, I still can't help but care.

You are essentially saying that socialists are selfish. That's patently ridiculous.

[Seth]

You are essentially saying that socialists are selfish. That's patently ridiculous.

No, it's absolutely true. Selfishness is the key trait of socialists. "You have more than I do and that's not fair so I want somebody to come along and take what you have and give it to me."

Quintessential socialism.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

How ironic, the poster boy for selfishness saying somebody else is selfish.

[Seth]

How ironic, the poster boy for selfishness saying somebody else is selfish.

You just mistakenly think I'm selfish because I won't bow to the demands of the dependent class that I fork over my labor and property at their command and at the muzzle of a machine gun.

Fact is I'm one of the most generous and kind people you'll ever meet. In fact, I'd take a bullet trying to protect even you, simply because I know how and I hold to the oath I took to serve and protect the innocent.

But you have to ask me nicely for my money and labor and you have to accept it with dignity if I don't deem you worthy of it.

Because it's MY fucking labor and property, not yours!

[pErvinalia]

You are essentially saying that socialists are selfish. That's patently ridiculous.

No, it's absolutely true. Selfishness is the key trait of socialists. "You have more than I do and that's not fair so I want somebody to come along and take what you have and give it to me."

Quintessential socialism.

Socialism is about sharing. It's in the fucking name.