tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post4893704989597646322..comments2024-03-27T03:00:27.024-04:00Comments on Facts & other stubborn things: Ditch Ag Subsidies - Double NASA's BudgetEvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12259004160963531720noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-18087063798192843802011-02-04T05:57:47.682-05:002011-02-04T05:57:47.682-05:00EdP - You don't think anyone that goes up ther...EdP - You don't think anyone that goes up there and sets up a settlement wouldn't have broadly recognized homesteading rights? And you don't think commercial space companies know this?<br /><br />Would it be nice to define property rights in space better? Sure. But I can imagine that raises a lot of red flags among other space-faring countries. I think it's absurd to act like that's some kind of obstacle - people didn't fail to settle the West until that was figured out, and it's not preventing them from settling space.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192667997950934790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-27617101060825361292011-02-04T00:31:41.268-05:002011-02-04T00:31:41.268-05:00A colony would have already been established if th...A colony would have already been established if the US would just balls up and back private property on the moon. It would probably involve developing some sort of mechanism to bid off property, but it would be a hell of a lot cheaper. And not to mention a lot more efficient than NASA. This would no doubt deviate from a strict "no government" principle, but space exploration is a difficult hurdle for individuals to jump when they live in statist world.EdPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-35899672623331774162011-02-03T22:22:43.301-05:002011-02-03T22:22:43.301-05:00A colony.A colony.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192667997950934790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-14302145957925537672011-02-03T18:28:53.237-05:002011-02-03T18:28:53.237-05:00What do you expect to gain from further space expl...What do you expect to gain from further space exploration conducted by Nasa?Jonathan M.F. Catalánhttp://www.economicthought.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-23199509479867580742011-02-03T11:23:56.294-05:002011-02-03T11:23:56.294-05:00*I've explained why I think it's necesary,...*I've explained why I think it's necesary, and of course, why its necessity is never something that can be nailed down conclusively. Not by me, not by you, and not by profit and loss either. It's an uncertain claim, but not a meaningless claim.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192667997950934790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-5928065335475065442011-02-03T11:22:49.392-05:002011-02-03T11:22:49.392-05:00Mattheus -
1. I think I've explained here an...Mattheus - <br /><br />1. I think I've explained here and in past posts why it's necessary and desirable to make these investments - click the "Mars", "space", and "externalities" labels to the right and you'll find several treatments of it. I also talk about it here.<br /><br />2. I hope you're not reading me to be prefering the public to the private sector or downplaying the private sector. That would be a gross misreading of what I'm saying.<br /><br />3. When you read my reasons for thinking it's important to make these investments you'll understand why profitability is a poor measure of desirability in this case. I can assure you I am well aware of the role, importance, and mechanics of profit and loss systems.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192667997950934790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1740670447258719504.post-54637815712472749122011-02-03T11:10:58.889-05:002011-02-03T11:10:58.889-05:00Why do you think it's necessary (and desirable...Why do you think it's necessary (and desirable) for government to invest in space exploration? In almost all areas, the private sector has been the cause of breakthrough technologies. It leads the public sector in research and development by leaps and bounds. One reason might be that public organizations do not have the same incentive to find results quickly.<br /><br />Furthermore, you should consider the question: If NASA was disbanded, why is it a problem if <i>nobody in the private sector</i> invests in space exploration? If it's an unprofitable enterprise, that should lead you to see that consumer's do not value the results coming from the project.<br /><br />I don't want to get in a big public goods/externalities argument. I still think you're wrong (for various reasons). It's just food for thought.Mattheushttp://www.economicthought.netnoreply@blogger.com