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From: al@vger.UUCP ( Informatix)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: NASA and SDI budgets
Message-ID: <351@vger.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Feb-86 20:21:17 EST
Article-I.D.: vger.351
Posted: Mon Feb 24 20:21:17 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 20:47:40 EST
References: <12185272326.7.J.JPM@EPIC>
Organization: UC Santa Cruz, CIS Dept.
Lines: 29

In article <12185272326.7.J.JPM@EPIC>, J.JPM@EPIC (Jim McGrath) writes:
> 
>         From: J.JPM@EPIC
>         But it never will.  One of the reasons I think SDI is a good
>         idea is that it is an excellent way to get funds for space
>         activities...

You should note that SDI not only contributes to the budget crunch (SDI's
budget is about 10 times that of space station this year) but also
drains talent from NASA.  For example, Abrahamson left shuttle to run
SDI - did this turnover contribute to Challenger's accident?  Hard to
say, but possible.  Another example, newly minted knowledge engineers
can get $40K/year or so working for DOD or $25K/year from NASA - guess
who gets the pick of the crop?

> I happen to think defense research is vital.  

'Defense' research is a driving force in the US/USSR arms race.  This
race has two credible outcomes - mutual nuclear disaster and mutual
economic exhaustion (while Japan laughs all the way to the bank).  I place
defense in quotes since, according to Aviation Week, very little of these
funds are spent on defense of the states of the union.

As reseach funding is increasingly dominated by the military, the militarization
of our society is increased.  Unfortunately, the qualities essential to
a military society are directly antithetical to freedom.  You must obey
orders, control is from the top down in a strict hierarchy, and little
personal choice is allowed.  This, even if necessary, eats away at the
foundation of our democracy.