Ted Cruz, Longtime Foe Of NASA And Science, Will Oversee NASA And Science In New Cong

[Doc Savage Fan]

You do realize the entire concept of the sequestration was that it was supposed to be a poison pill. Something so bad that neither party would dare let it actually occur. But Republicans never met a bad spending cut they didn't love it seems.

I understand the poison pill concept...was this not clear to you when I said sequestration was supposed to be the incentive for both parties to work together? Or were you just being rhetorical to set up your "punchline"?

 

[senseamp]

I'm looking at a graph which starts at the year 2k. During those years we had two different changes of administration, and shifts in Congress as a whole. In that whole time there has not been much consideration given to increasing in any significant way NASAs budget. Note that the budget during the first 8 years was under Bush, who apparently didn't sabotage NASA. Who was President after that? The one you are thanking?

Even so that's immaterial to my point which is that government, which is composed of two parties but for the rare independent, has not taken NASA or science in general as seriously as it should. You may forgive one side and blame the other, but I don't think either party has much to commend it. Oh, Iraq? We'll have a war. Syria? Thanks, you can have lots of money for problems there. The military budget? That's bacon. Expansion of this program or that one. Science? Well here's your bone.

For me that doesn't make a lot of sense.

Nasa Budget:
2009: 19,714M
2010: 20,423M
2011: 17,833M

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA
GOP savaged NASA with their insistence on sequester to fund the government.

 

[Darwin333]

I'm looking at a graph which starts at the year 2k. During those years we had two different changes of administration, and shifts in Congress as a whole. In that whole time there has not been much consideration given to increasing in any significant way NASAs budget. Note that the budget during the first 8 years was under Bush, who apparently didn't sabotage NASA. Who was President after that? The one you are thanking?

Even so that's immaterial to my point which is that government, which is composed of two parties but for the rare independent, has not taken NASA or science in general as seriously as it should. You may forgive one side and blame the other, but I don't think either party has much to commend it. Oh, Iraq? We'll have a war. Syria? Thanks, you can have lots of money for problems there. The military budget? That's bacon. Expansion of this program or that one. Science? Well here's your bone.

For me that doesn't make a lot of sense.

NASA's budget is a friggen rounding error in the grand scheme of the Fed budget. I've seen and heard tons of politicians and people argue that not increasing an agency or programs funding at least 3-4% that it is considered cutting that program/agency's funding.

 

[Darwin333]

Edit: Didn't realize the graph was already adjusted for inflation.

 

[senseamp]

Per the inflation calculator google found me, $17 trillion in 99' would be equivalent to $12.1 trillion in 2013 (didn't go to 2014), thats almost a 30% reduction in purchasing power over the last 14 years, thats a serious budget cut over time imho. In order to just have the same purchasing power their budget would need to be increased to almost $24 trillion.

Good luck with that with this Congress.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Nasa Budget:
2009: 19,714M
2010: 20,423M
2011: 17,833M

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA
GOP savaged NASA with their insistence on sequester to fund the government.

I realize that your entire purpose is to select out the Republicans and ignore everything else. Nevertheless for all the Republicans have not been exactly keen in supporting science I suggest you read the following.

According to the Office of Management and Budget and the Air Force Almanac, when measured in real terms (adjusted for inflation), the figure is $790.0 billion, or an average of $15.818 billion per year over its fifty-year history.

The Democrats when they have been in power were not exactly foaming at the mouth to substantially increase budgets when they had the opportunity. Now if it is you opinion that NASA should not be better funded then that's the end of that. The long term financial situation shows that both parties would agree with you. As for myself I'd like to see more funding and the ending of NASA as a political football by all in government, including Republicans.

 

[Thebobo]

Marco Rubio overseas NOAA now to round out the force of denial.

 

[MongGrel]

there is a very good chance that he'll launch a tonne of rockets in to space to find god...

so that's a win, right?

:biggrin:

What always ticks me off there is NASA is one of the few government entities that actually produces worthwhile things and is worth spending the money on, but it keeps getting beat up.

 

[Moonbeam]

:biggrin:

What always ticks me off there is NASA is one of the few government entities that actually produces worthwhile things and is worth spending the money on, but it keeps getting beat up.

Our support for arts and culture is even worse and the benefits are huge. If you are a thinking American, you will be put down as abnormal and subversive.

 

[Fern]

And the insanity continues - dark days ahead of us. Guess I need to find my donkey cart and practice "bring out your dead"

Hes a creationist
Hes a climate change denier.
He dislikes science
He thinks NASA is a waste of money

And now he leads the nation on science and space exploration! woot good job republicans!
-snip-

Seems to be serious misinformation here.

It's the Appropriation Committees that control NASA's budget. And Cruz ain't on it.

The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Appropriation is John Culberson (R-Texas), a big fan of NASA: http://spacenews.com/42614culberson-to-chair-nasa-house-appropriations-subcommittee/

The Senate Committee (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies) appears to be chaired by Richard Shelby (R-AL): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...propriations#Chairmen.2C_1867.E2.80.93present

Looks like 'a swing and a miss' by the Lib media and OP who bought the story line without a thought.

Fern

 

[IronWing]

Marco Rubio overseas NOAA now to round out the force of denial.

:biggrin:

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Our support for arts and culture is even worse and the benefits are huge. If you are a thinking American, you will be put down as abnormal and subversive.

I'm afraid that reflects our society. Time and again we see threads and posts complaining about "useless" knowledge. Evidently the idea is that an education is about a job and anything else is fluff. Sadly we see ignorance displayed by the supposedly educated. Only what one can obtain has value, and I strongly disagree with that perspective. The value of education goes far beyond mere money and that includes arts and literature and an appreciation for a larger world.

 

[Paratus]

I'm afraid that reflects our society. Time and again we see threads and posts complaining about "useless" knowledge. Evidently the idea is that an education is about a job and anything else is fluff. Sadly we see ignorance displayed by the supposedly educated. Only what one can obtain has value, and I strongly disagree with that perspective. The value of education goes far beyond mere money and that includes arts and literature and an appreciation for a larger world.

Eduction also allows for the construction of more sophisticated filters to protect beliefs in the ideological, unfortunately.

Education Plus Ideology Exaggerates Rejection of Reality

As for the topic at hand I believe the Hatch Act prevents me from stating my opinion.

 

[IronWing]

As for the topic at hand I believe the Hatch Act prevents me from stating my opinion.

Only if you're posting from work.

 

[Paratus]

Only if you're posting from work.

I know, just being a little snarky.

 

[etrigan420]

Looks like 'a swing and a miss' by the Lib media and OP who bought the story line without a thought.

Fern

Ahhh, so then our good Sen. Cruz has no say in how appropriated money is spent, or how legislation directly affecting NASA is crafted?

Whew, I guess that's awesome then...oh wait:

Subcommittee on Space
Legislative jurisdiction and general oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and development including: national space policy, including access to space; sub-orbital access and applications; National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its contractor and government-operated labs; space commercialization, including the commercial space activities relating to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce; exploration and use of outer space; international space cooperation; the National Space Council; space applications, space communications and related matters; earth remote sensing policy; civil aviation research, development, and demonstration; research, development, and demonstration programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; and space law.

(from here: http://science.house.gov/jurisdiction )


So, would you like to amend your moronic "swing and a miss" analogy, or would you like to double down for the chance to go full retard?

 

[Sonikku]

With the rate the gdp/jobs/gas prices and unemployment were going it was just time for a change. Now that we have find lads like Ted Cruz telling us about net neutrality and dictating terms on nasa he and his ilk can finally get this country back on track.

 

[Darwin333]

Good luck with that with this Congress.

Or any Congress to be fair...

 

[CitizenKain]

Ahhh, so then our good Sen. Cruz has no say in how appropriated money is spent, or how legislation directly affecting NASA is crafted?

Whew, I guess that's awesome then...oh wait:



(from here: http://science.house.gov/jurisdiction )


So, would you like to amend your moronic "swing and a miss" analogy, or would you like to double down for the chance to go full retard?

Fern is a rightwinger, he only knows full retard.

 

[cubby1223]

It's amazing! Only a week into the new congress and, according to the internet, they have already managed to destroy the CBO, Social Security, and science!

They've turned into quite the productive party, if you ask me. Look at all they have done in just their first week!

 

[boomerang]

Seems to be serious misinformation here.

It's the Appropriation Committees that control NASA's budget. And Cruz ain't on it.

The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Appropriation is John Culberson (R-Texas), a big fan of NASA: http://spacenews.com/42614culberson-to-chair-nasa-house-appropriations-subcommittee/

The Senate Committee (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies) appears to be chaired by Richard Shelby (R-AL): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...propriations#Chairmen.2C_1867.E2.80.93present

Looks like 'a swing and a miss' by the Lib media and OP who bought the story line without a thought.

Fern

Now you've gone and done it. You've put a damper on some temper tantrums. Just a damper though because I see it hasn't stopped them outright.

 

[Thebobo]

Seems to be serious misinformation here.

It's the Appropriation Committees that control NASA's budget. And Cruz ain't on it.

The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Appropriation is John Culberson (R-Texas), a big fan of NASA: http://spacenews.com/42614culberson-to-chair-nasa-house-appropriations-subcommittee/

The Senate Committee (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies) appears to be chaired by Richard Shelby (R-AL): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...propriations#Chairmen.2C_1867.E2.80.93present

Looks like 'a swing and a miss' by the Lib media and OP who bought the story line without a thought.

Fern

Without a thought? Thats appropriations for all the agencies Cruz is overseeing policy for his select few, big difference. And etrigan420 is correct and I stand by what I said.

Looks like an infield home run and error for you!

And boomerang was escorted out of the game for being behind the curve...

 

[HomerJS]

It's amazing! Only a week into the new congress and, according to the internet, they have already managed to destroy the CBO, Social Security, and science!

They've turned into quite the productive party, if you ask me. Look at all they have done in just their first week!

Unfortunately celebrating ignorance isn't new to the Republican Party. Imagine the budget slashing of any department that confirms the earth isn't 7K years old.

 

[Brovane]

So what are people on ATOT thinking that the NASA budget should be trending close to as % of the US federal budget?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Eduction also allows for the construction of more sophisticated filters to protect beliefs in the ideological, unfortunately.

Education Plus Ideology Exaggerates Rejection of Reality

As for the topic at hand I believe the Hatch Act prevents me from stating my opinion.

This brings to mind some threads I've seen on AT. A recent one is what you would gift your children with- great wealth, health, or wisdom. The people who thought you could buy wisdom or that wisdom is the same as knowledge was depressingly high. Some of the most educated people I know are among the most foolish. Most of those have a great knowledge of one or a few things, but a broad exposure with some depth? I hardly know anyone like that these days. Higher education is merely a means to a financial end, with a productive specialist having monetary value being the end result, but being a "smaller" person as well. Because of circumstance and inclination I had extraordinary education encompassing engineering, biology, health care, scientific research, and the associated exposure to physics, chemistry, and on and on. I also took electives which were not of a technical nature whenever possible, and it was very much a liberal arts focus on history, art, literature. Photography was extremely helpful as it taught me how to see.

The end result for those who are so inclined is a facility to draw from a broad background and make connections that others cannot possibly do.

Granted my circumstances were fortuitous and unusual, but our emphasis on a narrow focus for employment being the only worthwhile thing in education prevents others from appreciating a larger world and the pleasure that an enhanced perspective brings. It also brings dangerous intellectual tools to the ignorant, despite their degrees, as you noted. Not everyone can be as lucky as I was although at the time I didn't view the circumstances as such, but the utter disregard and occasional loathing of going beyond a narrow focus is something I view as a distressing trend.