Message-ID: <105@ihnp3.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Mar-84 22:04:03 EST
Article-I.D.: ihnp3.105
Posted: Wed Mar 14 22:04:03 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Mar-84 07:22:41 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 34


Pardon by flames, but...

Jan,

If you want to commit suicide, please leave me and the rest of the
species out of it.  Your opposition to the space station, (and by
strong inference manned spaceflight in general), is not only foolish
and short-sighted, but is also extremely dangerous.  In fact, given
a strict analysis of an individual's duty to the species, it is downright
IMMORAL.  

What gives nuclear weapons such a terrible prospect in our minds?
Surely it is not the simple magnitude of their destructiveness; rather
it is their genocidal properties which drives our horror of them.  
Laying aside any discussions of multilateral nuclear disarmament, which
given the current nature of the beast seems unlikely (please, no
counterflames on this one!) the fact that all of our eggs are in one basket
should be food for thought.  Any movement to raise the number of baskets
to greater than one should be cause for celebration rather than fomenting
dour grumblings about who's pocket is going to be picked this time.  I am
not suggesting that the space station will lead immediately to the 
preservation of the species, only that it is a logical first step that
must be taken NOW, while we still have the surplus resources to support it.

I agree with a previous commenter on the net; if U.S. law allowed for
direct contribution to specific agencies and programs, I would not 
hesitate to give additional money out of my own pocket to support 
manned space flight, and planetary programs as well, by the way.

(Somebody got a fire extinguisher?  My fingers are a little toasty...)

					Douglas H. Price
					..!ihnp4!ihnp3!dhp