tranceporter
The Cloud Conductor
I was a space nut when I was younger and I am still intrigued by it but the billions spent on space could be thrown elsewhere. Like Health Care.
Curiosity landing on Mars in less than an hour!
- Thread starter Vicki
- Start date
lwien
Well-Known Member
I can list TONS of things that the space program has provided us, but how 'bout we start here:
There is a very good possibility that you wouldn't even have a computer that allowed you to ask this question, let alone, a cell phone, if it weren't for the need to miniaturize electronics that was mandatory for the space program.
tranceporter
The Cloud Conductor
I hear you but we are in 2012 now. The tech is already here.
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
True, but it wasn't, and it gave people desperately needed jobs. You can't pay for healthcare if you have no job. I know this because I have been there.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/08/made-in-america-rover-reaches-the-red-planet/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/08/made-in-america-rover-reaches-the-red-planet/
Naw, the waste is war and killing ourselves.
lwien
Well-Known Member
Here are a few more things:
DIALYSIS: Modern machines to do the work of the kidneys – for patients waiting for or unable to have transplants – were developed as a result of a Nasa-developed chemical process.
MRI AND CAT SCANS: Nasa did not invent magnetic resonance imaging but it has contributed to major advances thanks to research into computer enhancement of pictures sent from the moon. Digital image processing has led to enhanced images of human organs.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING: A silicon chip originally developed for Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope makes the testing process less painful, less scarring and less expensive than traditional biopsy methods
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS: Prosthetic limbs are not new but advancements in space robotics are being adapted to create more lifelike functioning limbs.
SAT NAV: The global positioning system on which our in-car navigation systems are based was developed by the US Department of Defense. They would not exist without the space satellites.
And the above is just a small sampling of what the space program provided us.
Yes, these things have already been accomplished, but considering this, can you even imagine what new advances will be provided to us in the future? Do you actually think that advances such as what has already happened just stops somewhere along the time line if we continue our space exploration?
tranceporter
The Cloud Conductor
lwien
Well-Known Member
So you expect that doctors and the hospital staff should work for free?
We ALL should pay, be it directly or through taxes or through military service.
People in the medical field also have families to raise.
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
But, because it is not that way, people need jobs to get their healthcare. This project provided both, which were desperately needed. Not a waste at all.
Living in "free health care" Canada, BELIEVE ME ---- WE PAY!!!! We pay big time! Not sure i'm such a fan of this system though...would love more privatization....luckily I live close to the US border. It pisses me off that so many self inflicted ailments from smoking, alcohol, obesity, etc. are all covered for free.
Regardless, I don't wanna go off topic so i'll just shut up here.
Regardless, I don't wanna go off topic so i'll just shut up here.
tranceporter
The Cloud Conductor
Im pretty sure doctors in countries with free health care are not working for free..
I'd rather not have to worry about dying or paying a ridiculous bill rather than finding out if life existed on Mars. I'll stop here as well.
lwien
Well-Known Member
Then who do you think pays them? If you say that the government pays them, than I ask you, who pays the government that allows the government to pay the doctors?
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
tranceporter
The Cloud Conductor
My point was that we could use the billions used on the space program to pay our doctors. That is all.
Or the multi-billions on war and other government waste.
lwien
Well-Known Member
It's possible.
God I HOPE that's true because if we discover that it is true, it could be the ONLY lesson that would slap us in the face and snap us out of our delusions of grandeur.
IMHO will NEVER happen. I feel like the human race is nothing more than mold covering the earth.
Vicki
Herbal Alchemist
You actually said it was a waste of money, and you are absolutely wrong. The people that worked on this project were paid well, and as a result, were able to also get healthcare. I'm not trying to be combative, it's just that there are a lot of people out of work because the space shuttle program was shut down. This project gave, and is still giving, these people desperately needed work.
Not to mention all the points that Lwien made...
lwien
Well-Known Member
Awesome video, lwien. It actually made me cry because it is so true. I really miss Carl Sagan too.
Yeah, I miss Sagan too, but he passed the torch to Tyson, and I think he's doing Sagan proud.
MedicatedVet1911
Lord of The Seven Kingdoms.
I think space exploration is a needed investment , not that most of us will see the real fruits of this. The ability of humanity to migrate to place to continue our history should be our number one goal.
lwien
Well-Known Member
We have ALL seen the REAL fruits of this as mentioned in the posts above.