Space Exploration in not a waste.
Aha -- coolness factor in action! No it is not. But human space flight (at this stage, before we develop new technology for a flight to Mars) is.

BTW, NASA has a fantastic PR department. Just recall all those cool pictures form Mars rovers and Hubble Space telescope.

it has nothing to do with the "coolness factor".. I am the last person to be bought into the coolness factor.. it's because this aspect of scientific discoveries doesn't belong to the free market, there is no end economical product or services.. healthcare and medicinal discoveries do belong to the free market and have the end product, on the other hand..

it's because this aspect of scientific discoveries doesn't belong tothe free market, there is no end economical product or services
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what happened to the "end economical product or services" - the "whole host of innovations over the last 25-30 years directlyattributable to the space program, from satellite communications to newdrugs developed and tested in the weightless environment.", ventricular-assist device, and diapers mentioned in the earlier posts? those no longer qualify ?

healthcare and medicinal discoveries do belong to the free market and have the end product, on the other hand..
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Just because an "end product or service" exists, doesn't mean that government intervention is automatically unwarranted. The problem with the free market is that it is often far from perfect. Frequently, certain products are available only to those who can afford them. When it comes to cervices such as healthcare and education, many in the civilized world consider this unacceptable. These individuals believe that unlike simple consumer goods such as a TV set or a designer bag, healthcare is an essential service (some would even argue, a fundamental human right) that should be available to all.

The European Union has declared travelling a human right, and is launching a scheme to subsidize vacations with taxpayers' dollars for those too poor to afford their own trips.
Antonio Tajani, the European Union commissioner for enterprise and industry, proposed a strategy that could cost European taxpayers hundreds of millions of euros a year, The Times of London reports.
"Travelling for tourism today is a right. The way we spend our holidays is a formidable indicator of our quality of life," Mr. Tajani told a group of ministers at The European Tourism Stakeholders Conference in Madrid on April 15. Mr. Tajani was appointed to his post by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

fair comparison - going on a cruise is exactly the same as havingaccess to dialysis or getting life saving surgery. really, what was Ithinking.
in that case, I really can't understand why you so vehemently opposerationed health care - it's just like cutting your vacation short.

Want Decreased Health Care Costs and More Productive Employees? Send Them on Vacation.
more than half of Americans fail to use all of their allotted vacation days. Even more disturbing, the same study indicates that 42% of Americans in professional positions have had to cancel vacation plans due to work obligations.
Unfortunately in corporate America, time off is often associated with slacking, a lack of commitment and even the inability to fulfill job responsibilities.
Employers abroad seem to understand that taking a vacation can result in improved health, family life, productivity, creativity and personal well-being. Conversely, our international counterparts understand that too much time in the office results in less productive and less satisfied employees—negatively impacting business.
***********.insideindianabusiness.com/contributors.asp?id=1301

Это класс! *Отдых за счёт налогоплательщиков -неотьемлемое человеческое право. *Странно, что питание в ресторанах ещё не приравнено к неотьемлемым правам. *Я очень страдаю, когда мне приходится платить из своего кармана за ресторан. *Я считаю это вопиющим нарушением прав человека. *В справедливом мире, я должна иметь возможность зайти в любое французское бистро, и потребовать филейчики из дроздов с гранатовым сиропом и эклеры на десерт, и выйти оттуда с гордо поднятой головой, не заплатив ни копейки. *Счёт владелец ресторана пусть отправляет в министерсто пищевой промышленности. (pl) *Вот это жизнь! *Эх, вот за что надо бороться!

hoe about good quality shoes?? I think a pair of Jimmy Choo is a human right! Why should I wear shoes from Payless?? I deserve better!! We can do better! in the richest country of the World! :-)

Новое постановление избирательной коммиссии Нью-Йорка.
Для облегчения процесса выборов и с целью предотвращения длинных очередей на избирательных пунктах, предписано в этом году для республиканцев голосовать во вторник 2-го ноября, для демократов - голосовать в среду, 3-го ноября.
Соблюдайте правила голосования !!!

so the bottom line is: billion dollar flights to the moon - yes.
fancy cancer treatments - only for those who can afford them.
because once we start paying for those, we'll be just a hop, skip and a jump from subsidizing European vacations, dinners at fine restaurants, and manolo blahniks. *-)

“Sacrifice” does not mean the rejection of the worthless, but of the precious.“Sacrifice” does not mean the rejection of the evil for the sake of the good,but of the good for the sake of the evil. “Sacrifice” is the surrender of thatwhich you value in favor of that which you don’t.
If you exchange a penny for a dollar, it is not a sacrifice; if you exchangea dollar for a penny, it is. If you achieve the career you wanted, afteryears of struggle, it is not a sacrifice; if you then renounce it for thesake of a rival, it is. If you own a bottle of milk and give it to yourstarving child, it is not a sacrifice; if you give it to your neighbor’schild and let your own die, it is.

what if you share the milk with your neighbor's child, thus allowingthem both to live - in the process teaching your child a valuablelesson (one that has obviously been neglected). it doesn'thave to be either or - all or nothing.

Obamabots should just forget about fancy cancer treatments. There will be none of those when the rationing kicks in.
There will be a pain pill, though.

товарищи марксисты-ленинцы! а ну-ка быстро *по бревну и на субботник!
What does it have to do with what was discussed here so far?

Начальница, главариха, отаманша - ACORN
Заявила, да заявила в своём выступлении своей толпе -
I am proud to be a socialist!
Делайте выводы.

Возобновились полеты в Европе после пакостей вулкана в Исландии снепроизносимым названием *Эйяфьядлайёкюдль. * *Вообще, географическихгрубостей много. Среди них озеро Титикака и вулкан Попатекепетль. Новсех их забил вулкан в Перу с легким, ноантироссийским и хулиганскимназванием * Xуйнапутина (Huaynaputina). * Этот *вулкан знаменит своимкатастрофическим извержением 19 февраля 1600 года,которое считаетсясильнейшим извержением вулкана за всю историю Южной Америки.Теперьметеорологи и географы говорят, что это извержение былопричинойсерьезных климатических изменений, известных как «Малыйледниковый период».

1601 год был самым холодным за шестьсот лет. Из-за вулканической пылиСолнцехуже прогревало Землю, понизилась температура, в августе 1601года шел снег в *Москве и замерзали реки, что вызвало страшный неурожайи великий голод в России1601-1603 годов, следствием которого сталоСмутное время и многие дальнейшиеглубокие перемены в нашей истории.
Получается,что новый праздник, который правительство Путина установило всем *нам 4ноября, отмечает не столько избавление Москвы от поляков (но больше-казаков) в 1612 году, сколько избавление от исторических последствийизвержения *вулкана Xуйнапутина.
Долой хулиганов с карты мира!(H)

So, what are the thoughts about the Arizona illegal immigration law?
I was watching ( a rare moment in my life) some TV today -Al Sharpton was debating Ramesh Ponnuru on this law - Al Sharpton can't control himself, he needs a rabies shot. There is no reason with this guy.

I don't care if the left equates it to racial profiling.. no one will die if they are asked about their legal status.. if it saves tax payers money, reduces crime and save lives by catching and sending anyone who is here illegally back, I am all for it..

I agree... Why should anyone even pay attention to the complaints of racial profiling? It's such a bogus issue.

yet you consider the race question on the US census intrusive, unconstitutional...
I can totally see some overzealous cop on a power trip abusing his authority, and this thing getting way out of hand. does this mean that anyone visiting Arizona has to carry a passport on their person at all times?

what if you're a passenger and the cop thinks you look suspicious? what if you're a tourist? you think a cop can tell the difference between a real visa and a fake?
nothing about this reminds you of the former Soviet Union?

Under the new law, signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) on Friday, legal immigrants will be required to carry documents proving their status. Police will question anyone they "reasonably suspect" of being undocumented,
I don't see any mention of speeding here.

obviously only someone who knows nothing about the Soviet Union could only have made the comparison.. there was no one who wanted to come to the SU illegally or legally.. people wanted to run from there.. we have a federal law on the books that can land you in prison for coming and staying here illegally.. if feds don't enforce it, the states have every right too..

Светлана,
The new Arizona law is exact copy of the federal statute that is on the books already, that allows Immigration and Customer Enforcement Agency (ICE) to question people in order to determine if they are in the country legally.
In the face of the Federal Government's total abdication of its responsibility to protect the borders and actually enforce THE LAW, the state government of Arizona and its law enforcement agencies will now be able to enforce the law that the feds refuse to enforce.

please, you know if this was Obama's initiative, you'd be the first to yell something about communism, privacy, and violation of your basic rights and freedoms, while waving the constitution and the American flag.

ICE can not detain nor can they deport you simply because you refuse to answer.Some people choose not to speak at all. Others choose to identifythemselves by name and ask to speak with an attorney. If you areultimately arrested, you may want to identify yourself by name so thatfriends and family members can contact you.
***********.washingtonlawhelp.org/documents/1974518106EN.pdf?stateabbrev=/WA/
The new law makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. without proper documents. It allows the police to stop anyone on "reasonable suspicion" that they may be in the country unlawfully and arrest them on the spot if they can't produce identity papers. The police aren't required to have a search warrant or even to suspect some illegal action has occurred before questioning a person.
it's really not the same thing.

Arizona's police chiefs association opposed the new law. Local enforcement agencies don't want responsibility for enforcing national immigration laws because they say it makes them less effective at their day jobs. When people in immigrant communities see the local police as deportation agents, they become less likely to report crimes and help in investigations. Conditions worsen.



Restrictionists insist, with some justification, that these laws are shrinking the illegal population. The larger reality is that border crossings track the economy. The recent downturn has meant fewer illegal entries and more immigrants going home. Before the law, Arizona's illegal population had fallen 18% in the past year.

The most effective way to reduce illegal entries anddefuse these tensions is to expand legal channels, including guestworker programs. This would reduce illegal immigration and free upsecurity resources to threats from drug gangs and the like.
********online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703465204575208382473306238.html?m od=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

please, you know if this was Obama's initiative, you'd be the first toyell something about communism, privacy, and violation of your basicrights and freedoms, while waving the constitution and the Americanflag.
If this were obamka's initiative, I would vote for him:-)
Language, borders, culture.

so you would be perfectly fine with being hauled off to jail just because you don't happen to have your passport on you while visiting the state of Arizona?

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."


Now I'm not comparing Arizona to Nazi Germany, as most conservatives here wouldn't hesitate to do (and have done), were the shoe on the other foot, but there are some undeniable paralleles: a group of people is being singled out based mainly on their appearance, and some of us being perfectly fine with it primarily because we don't think it could happen to us.

yep, THEY also come for people who break our laws or are criminals..(hu) .. because this country has a rule of law, or we (or some) still strive to have it..

I repeat, if you look like a foreigner and don't have the proper papers on you (who amongst us carries their passport around?), they will come for you.

One thing that I don't understand is how Republicans can reconcile their opposition to introduction of "federal ID" ("internal passport") and acceptance of the new Arizona law. If someone can clarify this to me, I'll appreciate that.

No need for an "internal passport", Алексей. Most people who are here legally carry a driver's license, a credit card, a job ID or some other form of identification. I am not necessarily 100% supportive of this law at the state level, but this is really an act of desperation on the part of Arizonians in light of total federal ineptitude.

Well, but this is where my problem is. Usual driver's license (or any other ID) does NOT have your citizenship status and cannot be used for determination of your legal status. One would be required to show a federally-issued ID (passport, passport card or naturalization/birth certificate), which goes against this basic position of the Republican Party.
The only exception (of state-issued ID) is "enhanced" drivers license (for instance, issued by the state of Michigan), which can be used to travel to Canada. But this is not a mandatory ID.

I also "loved" how McCain swiftly commented on this law - that it's a measure reacting to inability of current Govment to secure the borders ( or something along the same lines) - give me break, where were you for the 8 yrs preceding this administration? - it is nearly impossible to do....
I think it's going to backfire....nobody wants to be stopped just for the heck of it. It is the same thing as they do in Moscow towards "litza kavkazskoj nacional'nosti".
What we need is the law that will allow all those people to find work legally and pay into our tax base, that supports their medical care in this country......And very very strict enforcement of legal employment.