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From: enno@labtam.oz (Enno Davids)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: space news from June 25 AW&ST
Message-ID: <5133@labtam.oz>
Date: 17 Aug 90 08:28:55 GMT
References: <1990Aug16.035644.16520@zoo.toronto.edu>
Reply-To: enno@labtam.UUCP (Enno Davids)
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: Labtam Information Systems, Melbourne
Lines: 32

In article <1990Aug16.035644.16520@zoo.toronto.edu> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes:
>Bush sharply criticizes Congress's cuts to Moon/Mars budget and says he
>will fight for "a fully funded space program".  The House has just about
>killed M/M.  There have also been more modest cuts to the space station,
>which are making the international "partners" edgy, and a complete
>elimination of funding for ALS propulsion work [boo hiss].

I've always been intruiged by this. Why exactly is it that NASA must allow a
bunch of know-nothing politicians dictate what their budget will be spent on.
Surely they (NASA) must in the best position to know where to spend their
budget allocation consistent with achieving the goals set for them. The
politician can raise or lower the amount, but where they spend it should be
their (accountable) decision.

The setting of the goals is where the political animal should be concentrating
on what direction the agency takes. Instead of just saying, "I know the Prez
said you should investigate Moon-Mars but I'm not giving you any money to do
it with, so there!"


Enno.


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