Bloviating Zeppelin

(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Disband NASA: NOW!

There is no further use for NASA.

They simply waste our tax dollars.

There is nothing more that NASA can reveal with its missions and goals. We are not even remotely technologically ready for its logical future.

In the meantime:

The Mercury missions were necessary;
The Gemini missions were necessary;
The Apollo missions were necessary;

A few shuttle missions were necessary. Except:

On January 28th, 1986, all seven astronauts on Challenger were killed upon throttle-up.

On February 1st, 2003, another seven astronauts perished upon re-entry to our atmosphere.

And now:

Are we allowing astronauts to be drunk on these platforms?

I'm sorry.

That's it.

That's enough.

Enough with the MILLIONS and, moreover, with the BILLIONS.

Disband NASA.

Disband NASA now!

This is simply enough.

How continuously stupid can we be?

15 Comments:

bigwhitehat said...: I don't want to do away with it. I just want to privatize its operations.

The launching and maintenance of satellites and useful research could be better handled by a bunch of ex nasa contractors. But that stuff is still necessary.; Sat Jul 28, 06:54:00 PM PDT
TexasFred said...: I wonder if they took those female astronuts to space so they could have wild, weightless space sex??; Sat Jul 28, 07:43:00 PM PDT
Bloviating Zeppelin said...: NASA proffers places I would not necessarily want to go.

If they cannot control their astronauts, who then, can they, control?

BZ; Sat Jul 28, 08:02:00 PM PDT
Bloviating Zeppelin said...: BWH: there is no US and THEM with NASA. We either spend those trillions of federal dollars or we don't. I recommend: we do NOT.

TF: Know what? I'll wager SOMEONE has done this already on OUR dollars.

NASA seems to indicate: we can't control our astronauts. Fine. I can't seem to control how I recommend we spend our likewise dollars.

BULLshit!!

BZ; Sat Jul 28, 09:48:00 PM PDT
Bushwack said...: Well BZ, I think NASA has been responsible for some of the greatest discoveries on earth.
The things they have developed in order to improve space travel, have been made into every day conveniences.

That being said; I think I'd have to have stiff drink (or 12) before I strapped my ass in the seat of the shuttle.

I guess NASA stands for:
Need A Sober Astronaut.

I don't think it should be abandoned, I think it should be more closely monitored.; Sat Jul 28, 09:52:00 PM PDT
bigwhitehat said...: "Need A Sober Astronaut" You kill me Robert.

Blo, their are needed surveillance satellites in places that have no economic potential. I don't give a damn how those are launched and maintained so long as they are. Sure NASA could be obsolete but there has to be some way to take care of things.

No doubt, they cost too much. You could make that argument with or without the drinking.; Sat Jul 28, 11:55:00 PM PDT
Mahndisa S. Rigmaiden said...: 07 29 07

Hey BZ:
I TOTALLY agree with you here. NASA is comprised of a bunch of jerkwads who think they are smarter than the rest of the world. The elitism of the astronaut programme is ridiculous. NASA, just as our public school system, needs to get a fucking clue!

One needn't have fifty degrees to be a competent space farer. One needs foundational knowledge and a strong ability to problem solve. People that posess these abilities do not necessarily have a million degrees on their walls but could make wonderful astronauts...I ramble.

The agency does not run, and never has run efficiently. Privitization with some government subsidies makes the most sense. Hello Dennis Tito my friend!!!; Sun Jul 29, 03:44:00 AM PDT
Bloviating Zeppelin said...: Privatization? In my opinion, bring it on!

BZ; Sun Jul 29, 03:57:00 AM PDT
shoprat said...: Eventually we need to privatize but so far not too many have taken the bait.

I respectfully disagree about totally disbanding NASA. Space is part of man's destiny and developing the frontier is mandated to the Federal government by the Constitution (though the actual reference is to territories that are not yet states, it is no large stretch to apply it to space - - a much smaller stretch than liberals take on economic and social matters.)

Yes we must deal with the drunken astronauts and elitist attitudes, and eventually get it into the private sector, but space is far too important in so many ways to abandon. (Defense issues alone should be sufficient.)

I must respectfully disagree with you.; Sun Jul 29, 08:54:00 AM PDT
A Jacksonian said...: Take any 20 years of aviation history and the last 20 years of space flight. The advances in aviation were spurred on by: prizes and government airmail contracts that were guaranteed for a set term.

Notice how much government created of the aircraft industry? A lot during wartime, yes, but major advances have come during peacetime: the jet engine was beind developed in Germany and Britain and even in the US before WWII. Within a decade after WWII commercial liners went from propeller to jet, by and large. The inter-war years of 1919-39 saw a radical change over from bi-planes of wood to monoplanes of aluminum skins. Government purchased transport for distances for airmail, and let the industry fight to get good equipment made.

The last 20 years of NASA? From the Space Shuttle to the Space Shuttle! Yes! 1970's technology that needs hobbyists to keep it going because no one makes the microchips for the poor thing anymore. Modern components run too fast for that old infrastructure and to update that... well, better build a brand-new generation.

Tell you what: mandate contracts for delivery of personnel and equipment to the ISS, satellite delivery and in-space repair, and set some goals for delivery of loads to orbit and the moon. Contracts waiting to be fulfilled, equipment delivered... and let private industry decide the best way to do it.

NASA is great on science! Lets keep them around for probes to the other planets and examining just how cranky Sol can get. But their stuff is delivered by contract transport.

Get NASA out of the spaceflight creation and control business.

It served as a National Think Tank for a decade, but that is gone and long gone. Keep the small parts that work and jettison the industrial cargo portion to industry. There are lots of folks with different views of how to get to orbit: make it there and prove it and get contracts for delivery there.

That has a proven track record in aviation: it works. Do not tell *how* it is to be done, but *what* needs to be done and let folks figure out how on their own.; Sun Jul 29, 10:27:00 AM PDT
TexasFred said...: I want in on the 'Weightless Sex Romp' program... Viagra in Space... What a concept...; Sun Jul 29, 10:53:00 AM PDT
Bloviating Zeppelin said...: AJ: you're right and it's an embarrassment; elder technology helmed by astronauts that may have been drunk. Our money goes for this?

Moreover, once again having proven it can't do much of anything right, the government soldiers on. And this wonderful government is what MORE people, particularly those on the Left, want to rely on more and more?

I find that most silly.

BZ; Sun Jul 29, 12:49:00 PM PDT
A Jacksonian said...: Mr. Z - Those that want more government want no life for themselves or others. Government is not intended to *make* anything: not to make a workable 'social security system', nor to make a 'national health care system', nor to make a 'space program'. Those things belong in the hands of citizens for good and ill, both. We have always had citizens who couldn't afford everything, people who could not plan well in their lives and folks willing to trust their lives to experiment with technology to find a better way to achieve more for themselves and all around them.

Government was made to be the backstop of liberties so that citizens would not lose them due to poor laws. Government does not provide rights... it is self-evident in each of us that we have rights and lend bare few to government so that we can be governed, not ruled. Which means that individuals will suffer... and others should reach out to help them. Government is not there to provide one with a good life, just make sure you know that it is *you* as an individual that makes your life and keep one from going absolutely destitute. Even then the great source of help is charity, and Americans give more per person indivdiually than any other people on this planet.

Get NASA out of the delivery business... that old ox-drawn wagon needs to be replaced. That canvas covered biplane needs make way for the jet aircraft. And a voyage of discovery is backed by individuals gathering together to push forward, not by government pushing *us*. We can take care of the poor *and* reach for the stars as they are one in the same thing.

They are the expression of liberty and freedom and our recognition that our problems lie with us, and cannot be solved by government, only ensured that we have the tools to solve them ourselves. That is a path to more liberty, more freedom and a better life for all. That is what we agree to so as to be FREE. Free to fail.

And free to succeed.

Remove the first and you ensure the second will be diminished until it no longer happens. Then we will be slaves to our fears, not free for our aspirations.; Sun Jul 29, 04:57:00 PM PDT
Bloviating Zeppelin said...: AJ: I've said it time and again; you do not need only your own blog, you need your own column in papers throughout the nation.

You write at such a higher level than myself, it makes me consider the relationship between ants and humans.

If you could only HIT the MAINSTREAM.

BZ; Sun Jul 29, 06:45:00 PM PDT
Mahndisa S. Rigmaiden said...: 07 31 07

Hey BZ and AJ:
AJ really is a genius. I havta read his posts ten times before I understand them. And in this case, from what I understand, AJ is RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!; Tue Jul 31, 09:39:00 PM PDT

Bloviating Zeppelin

: Name: Bloviating Zeppelin; Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains, Fornicalia, United States

A former Democrat in my tender and ignorant youth, I am now a Conservative first and, these days, quite a distant Republican with a dash of Libertarian mixed in for good measure. I believe in God, the strength of America, the brilliance of our Founding Fathers, the valor of our military, and the need for Leadership in all forms and on every level. I am not an advocate of censorship as I believe everyone on the Far Left has a God-given right to be painfully stupid -- as I have a right to expose said stupidity. UPDATED NOTE: Recent legal references mandate that I make clear that these writings are ONLY my written OPINIONS and those of no one else. FAIR USE NOTICE - This web site may contain copyrighted material, which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such images and excerpts are made available for the purpose of analysis and critique, as well as to advance understanding of social, political, media and cultural issues. We believe this constitutes 'fair use' as explained in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. ADVERTISING: I do NOT, however, ask for nor display advertisements here.

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Bloviating Zeppelin

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Disband NASA: NOW!

15 Comments:

Bloviating Zeppelin

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