Doesn't depend on the tech. Many times the original intended purpose for new tech doesn't end up being the best use.

It's the most important mission. Staying ahead of the curve in technology is the most important thing securing our way of life today.

So you feel we should be funding stuff like this:
Sucking dick for $44,000/hr? (Not a whore, it's the F-22) - The Something Awful Forums

That is not entirely true.

South America has a long history of resisting neo liberal economic policy, even when it meant the west supporting terrorism in their borders, assassination of leaders, and general power mongering to make their lives hell. This is the modern history of south america.

The industrial and corporate takeover of socialist leaning south america has always been a threat.

Its not accurate to suggest that he is spending (or intending to spend) anywhere near the amount of money the US spends on arms. And it is certainly not accurate to suggest that socialist south american nations are not constantly under threat from the 'west'.

Andrew

__________________
“...corporations and those who run them cannot stop exploiting resources and amassing wealth until they have... .I cannot finish this sentence, because the truth is that can never stop; like cancer, they can only continue to expand until they kill the host.”

-- Derrick Jensen

Absolutely, the more we research and try to perfect, the closer we are to making the next step in advancing life. You never know which rock that answer will be under.

How does building dozens of planes that are vulnerable to rain and suffer critical failure within hours help us go there? Should I get billions of dollars in federal funding for perfecting new ways to build paper planes? Give me a fucking break!

You should read to the statement I wrote and explain why you have no understanding of it.

What don't I understand? You said we should research/perfect anything and everything because "You never know which rock that answer will be under." So where are my billions? If you don't pay me, you'll risk my not accidentally discovering the cure to cancer while building paper airplanes!

Well, your comments not making a bit of sense shows your lack of understanding.

What problem are you having?

I said: It's stupid to fund incredibly wasteful activity A.
You said: No, incredibly wasteful activity A should be funded because it might someday lead to useful, life-related theoretical breakthrough B.

So, I reply: Then fund my incredibly wasteful activity C so that it may one day (maybe) lead to useful, life-related theoretical breakthrough B.

In other words, if you feel fine about funding one bullshit program, why not fund another? They both can lead to a chance of discovering what you want, which is the reason you used to justify it.

No, you deemed it wasteful, I said it was research.

The paper airplane argument is incredibly silly.

I'm researching ways to build a better paper airplane. Are you saying it's wasteful? I say it's research.

Research is needed, but to turn over every rock out there is financially impossible. So the trick is to not just turn over as many rocks as possible (make better paper planes or the F22) but to turn over the rocks that matter.

Nor is that what I was trying to suggest. It is the types of weapon systems he is buying that he, strategically, is unable to justify.

__________________
I am a liberal, a classical liberal. Classical liberalism is liberalism, but the current collectivists have captured that designation in the United States. In Europe they are glad enough to call themselves socialists. But no one in America wants to be called socialist and admit what they are.

Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, Perseverance

why. since when are tanks, fighter jets, kalishnikovs, and combat helicopters not justified?

Can't they be used to deter, defend against or attack columbia?

Andrew

__________________
“...corporations and those who run them cannot stop exploiting resources and amassing wealth until they have... .I cannot finish this sentence, because the truth is that can never stop; like cancer, they can only continue to expand until they kill the host.”

-- Derrick Jensen