Political Activism towards space spending - converseing ways to increase the budget

sethmckiness · 2003-08-08 07:18:45

Currently the budget for Space set by this country is the largest of any country on Earth, maybe with the exception of the Chinese who is kick starting their space program. I just would like to start a thread about ways to increase support for funding and how to help achieve this goal. Being in the Military I am aware of how government funding works. It is hard to increase it, but oh so easy to take it away. Being that NASA spening is not a Meat and Potatos kind of agency,. more of a Cool dessert that is really spendy, like the $5 Cheese Cake when you go out for dinner.

clark · 2003-08-08 12:14:05

A way to increase funding for NASA is to develop coherent arguments for why NASA's funding should be increased. The arguments need to speak to a common denominator of people, and should be easily understandable- no fancy language or ideas, or ideals. Nothing esoteric. Nothing spiritual.

Just cold, raw, numbers with pretty bar graphs and pie charts.

Major points that should be tied in are (no particular order):

Education, how NASA, or investment in aerospace improves Education.

Industry, how NASA, or investment in aerospace improves economic well being for more people.

Environment, how NASA, or investment in space sciences will improve our environment, or help to keep it clean.

Security, how NASA, or investment in space infrastructure leads to a more secure nation, and a more secure future.

Next, I highly suggest the formation of a Politcal Action Committee that will register voters who have a primary interest in an increase in NASA budgets. The PAC will look to raise funds to help canadites with pro-space leanings to run for office. They will also use the funds raised to lobby current office holders to invest further in NASA.

Primary funding might come from grass roots organizations as well as large Aerospace corporations.

Develop grass root organizations declaring "investment in space" a single voter issue. The organizations sign people up who agree that their stance on investing in space is so strong, it may/ and or will determine who they vote for (this is similar to groups for or against abortion).

This will have the net effect of making investment in space an actual issue that must be dealt with- by and large, most canadites don't even have a position (but ALL have a position on abortion...see).

And to top if off, a Million Person March on Capitol Hill (or even Cape Canvril!) might show some how serious the cause it...

Imagine a Million people at the next Shuttle launch.

Josh Cryer · 2003-08-08 12:30:35

Translation of Clark's post: Expand Military Industrial Complex While Privitizing Assets.

But seriously. You're not going to see a Million Man March. Not for space. It's really not a political issue. It's easier to sell tax cuts than it is to sell some ridiculous billion dollar trip to Mars. The only way it's happening is a China-US space race, and again, that will have nothing to do with some pressing need to do it right- just to do it at all.

I recommend you all read Stu's post on the main page. It is well written, and pretty much shows how we need gimmicks to get our aspirations up. His idea ain't all that bad either.

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#1 2003-08-08 07:18:45

Re: Political Activism towards space spending - converseing ways to increase the budget

#2 2003-08-08 12:14:05

Re: Political Activism towards space spending - converseing ways to increase the budget

#3 2003-08-08 12:30:35

Re: Political Activism towards space spending - converseing ways to increase the budget

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