Public ignorance on federal agencies?

[TechHead87]

Who is to blame for public ignorance about federal agencies and employees? I've heard people bash NASA and say (with a straight face) "what's the point of space flight anyway?"

 

[Sluggo]

If the government schools fail at teaching the children about government, I know where to point the finger.

 

[Humpy]

You are. Seriously.

In before without NASA we wouldn't have Tang or Velcro.

 

[BoomerD]

You are, seriously.

In before without NASA we wouldn't have Tang or Velcro.

Not having Tang wouldn't be a terrible thing. Velcro on the other hand is a true miracle from the Gods.

Oddly enough, in my very limited time in skool, I don't remember taking any classes that explained the various government agencies and their duties.

Besides...thar ain't nuthin in the bible nor the Constitution about space flight.

 

[Tiamat]

The ignorant are to blame for their own ignorance. They lack the drive, the desire, the curiosity, the wisdom to continually learn. The second an ignorant person opens their mouth without thinking for themselves what they are actually saying, crap hits the fan. It is sad really...

NASA isn't just spaceflight, they basically repeat most research done by all other organizations, but the difference is they do it in low/micro gravity. Many problems that crop up in the cramped areas of the shuttle or station provide interesting solutions that help better understand Earthly problems (especially with survival gear). Like many large research organizations, the research is broad, somewhat shotgunned, and discoveries are somewhat random and unexpected. High risk of not getting anything useful, but if and when you do discover something, it is huge.

 

[zerocool84]

If the government schools fail at teaching the children about government, I know where to point the finger.

We already know they fail so nothing new there.

 

[DrPizza]

I'm all for doubling NASA's budget - but agree - there's no point to manned space flight.

 

[Leros]

The Curiousity rover stopped tweeting

Sept 26: "Waters of Mars: I found H2O molecules bound in rocks/dust, not liquid water. When heated to 150-300 C, the minerals release water vapor."

Oct 1: "Due to the gov't shutdown, all public NASA activities/events are cancelled or postponed until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience."

https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/

 

[Jeff7]

Who is to blame for public ignorance about federal agencies and employees? I've heard people bash NASA and say (with a straight face) "what's the point of space flight anyway?"

Also frightening is how much people think NASA costs, coupled with substantial ignorance of math.
I did a bit of a survey for a class back during college.
The results indicated that the understanding of the difference between millions, billions, and trillions was not terribly good.

"A yearly budget of $17 billion? That's like, half of all federal spending, right?"

I'm all for doubling NASA's budget - but agree - there's no point to manned space flight.

Except maybe as a PR campaign - NASA's marketing arm.


The ship shown briefly at the beginning of Avatar - that was a pretty impressive setup there. I think something like that might get some interest in the space program again.

Travel to distant worlds. See amazing wildlife on other planets. Work with 1-dimensional caricatures. Have sex with aliens. NASA.


They fly off on an expensive trip to some other planet, and discover strange new STDs, thanks largely to all that alien 'tang.
Everyone else gets to reap the benefits of an entire generation suddenly being interested in science and engineering again.

The Curiousity rover stopped tweeting

Sept 26: "Waters of Mars: I found H2O molecules bound in rocks/dust, not liquid water. When heated to 150-300 C, the minerals release water vapor."

Oct 1: "Due to the gov't shutdown, all public NASA activities/events are cancelled or postponed until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience."

https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/

"Oct 3rd: Working with SpaceX, volunteers will be sending one randomly-selected Congressman to Mars every day, until those who are left decide to behave like adults."

I'm sure a Kickstarter campaign would generate enough money to at least get several of them out of Earth orbit.

 

[IronWing]

You are. Seriously.

In before without NASA we wouldn't have Tang or Velcro.

You're evil.

 

[IronWing]

Not having Tang wouldn't be a terrible thing. Velcro on the other hand is a true miracle from the Gods.

Oddly enough, in my very limited time in skool, I don't remember taking any classes that explained the various government agencies and their duties.

Besides...thar ain't nuthin in the bible nor the Constitution about space flight.

Ezekiel described the space station.

 

[IronWing]

Who is to blame for public ignorance about federal agencies and employees? I've heard people bash NASA and say (with a straight face) "what's the point of space flight anyway?"

Space flight is the circuses part of "bread and circuses".

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

"Oct 3rd: Working with SpaceX, volunteers will be sending one randomly-selected Congressman to Mars every day, until those who are left decide to behave like adults."

I'm sure a Kickstarter campaign would generate enough money to at least get several of them out of Earth orbit.

I would pay for that, and I'm not even American.

Seriously. Your politicians are dragging down the calibre of the entire human race.

 

[OverVolt]

I heard that satellites were useful.

 

[Anonemous]

I heard that satellites were useful.

Great for them TV channels and GPS...

 

[who?]

Velcro was invented by some Swiss guy and Tang was invented in 1957. Teflon was accidentally invented in 1937. Try again.

 

[Intabus]

Velcro was invented by some Swiss guy and Tang was invented in 1957. Teflon was accidentally invented in 1937. Try again.

I cannot seem to find your sources linked in your post. Most assuredly I am not looking hard enough. Please help me find them.

 

[Lil Frier]

I cannot seem to find your sources linked in your post. Most assuredly I am not looking hard enough. Please help me find them.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/archive/How_a_Swiss_invention_hooked_the_world.html?cid=5653568

From the Velcro Wikipedia article (where I got the think above):

"As Velcro only became widely used after NASA's adoption of it, NASA is popularly — and incorrectly — credited with its invention."

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/11/tastemaker-with-a-sweet-tooth/303577/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene

I was bored and did his work.

 

[CPA]

I'm more worried about the public's, and for that matter, Congress' lack of understanding the Constitution and the limits on Congress' authority to appropriate money. Because of that, we have all kinds of programs that are not constitutionally authorized.

 

[cronos]

You are. Seriously.

In before without NASA we wouldn't have Tang or Velcro.

Velcro came from the Vulcans

 

[Edgy]

yeah... education is broken at all levels in many countries including US. Can blame the system, government, teachers, society etc., and it won't be wrong.

I think the fix must start at home though since logic dictates that parents/family have the earliest and most potential influence on establishing a solid learning habit that will persevere.

Besides, if there is a will to learn, there's almost no limit nowadays in this internet age.

 

[Vdubchaos]

It also comes down to priorities. If we can't provide healthcare and proper education for our children, should we be REALLY even talking about space programs and travel?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It also comes down to priorities. If we can't provide healthcare and proper education for our children, should we be REALLY even talking about space programs and travel?

Yes. NASA forms an important part of healthcare/basic science research, and it is very important in science education. It is very cost-effective for the amount of benefit it provides to your society overall.

It's just a pity that few people can see it.

What you really should be asking is this:

- If you can't provide basic healthcare and education, should you REALLY be engaging in multiple military actions overseas?
- If you can't provide basic healthcare and education, should you REALLY be spending money spying on others?
- If you can't provide basic healthcare and education, should you REALLY be talking about anything else at all?

Ultimately, as you say, it comes down to priorities. Either you think basic healthcare and education are the important priorities for your nation, or you think that appeasing old white men and fighting useless, doomed wars overseas is.

And the American way of dealing with the issue (i.e. blaming someone else) obviously hasn't worked. Whatever you've been doing, hasn't worked. Maybe it's time you actually did something instead of making yourself feel good about what you didn't do.

 

[Thebobo]

I'm all for doubling NASA's budget - but agree - there's no point to manned space flight.

Gil Scott Heron would agree with you

 

[dainthomas]

I'm all for doubling NASA's budget - but agree - there's no point to manned space flight.

See Tiamat's post.

Aside from that, manned space flight serves as an inspiration for people to become more involved in the sciences. While impossible to quantify, how many more children in the 60's chose to pursue science careers directly as a result of the Apollo program?

The fact that NASA's funding is basically a rounding error in our overall budget is a travesty.