I agree 100% Arcalyn.
It amazes me everytime I hear some hillbilly spout off 'What do we need ta go into space for?'
I think the brunt of the population (lets say the bottom 70% iq wise) can't see the approaching dilemmas caused by overpopulation, overcrowding, and heightened resource consumption. Things grow exponentially, not linearly, so it's going to be progressing downhill alot faster. Unless we make some amazing leaps in transportation technology in the next 50-100 years, we're going to end up back in the stone ages (unless we blast ourselves there first).
By the time we realize our shortsightedness, it will most likely be about to late to do much for 90% of the population. I started reading the old 'Bio of a Space Tyrant' series again recently (Piers Anthony, great series for anyone that has the time), and it made me think about that again.
I'm glad to see NASA more active recently, but there really does need to be a global space agency, thats given enough money to actually make some real progress. Im seeing NASA starting to try to become self sufficient by catering more to big business, its only a matter of time before they are mass supporting corporate space ventures. Which is probably what they should do in my opinion.
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