Explorative technology versus funding of welfare programs, what say you?

[nolabels]

I'm speaking of the exploration of outer space, surely an expensive gamble, but potentially capable of allowing humankind to continue on indefinitely, versus committing those same financial resources to supporting welfare policies as many today would suggest is more appropriate.

My position is that any welfare policy that promotes more of the same is self-defeating, ultimately dooming mankind to obliteration.

I'm for taking care of those who truly need assistance, but not for handouts to those who are capable of fending for themselves. The distinction between those two conditions is virtually indistinguishable in today's world.

Please feel free to expound upon the subject of technologies other than space exploration.

[purplepoppy]

If you want to get rid of welfare then employers have to pay a living wage, not just the bare minimum they can get away with. Governments would rather direct tax towards welfare than upset companies by asking them to pay a fair wage.
One thing that pisses me off is whenever scientists research something like space when people say "that money should go towards schools, hospitals etc." With that attitude we'd still be living in the dark ages.

[nolabels]

Thanks for your heartfelt reply.

I'm all for collective bargaining, with the employees themselves acting as a business contracting with their employers to the benefit of all.
It's the same thing as a supplier negotiating the price of raw materials to a business. Demand a price that the market will bear.
The early to mid-20th century showed the huge benefits of unionization to all concerned.
The days of the robber-barons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries came to an end with the advent of unionization, along with sane governmental intervention regarding anti-trust situations.
Unfortunately, the original concept of unions has become severely bastardized in recent years, covering the backsides of those individuals who are not willing or able to provide the services as required by industry.
I believe that if unionization were to return to it's roots, much progress would be made.
There's much more to accomplishing that, though, than I'm in a position to adequately discuss.

The globalization of the economy, succumbing to cheap goods supplied by virtual slave labor in communist countries is what I see as being the biggest block to the sustainability of the average world citizen.
I willingly will pay more for goods that are produced by humane industries whenever possible.

See next dialogue box...

[nolabels]

As to your second paragraph, I'm unclear as to your position. The advancement of schools and hospitals is along the same lines as advancement of technologies regarding space exploration.
Funding of any advancement by private sources is strictly their business, no matter what they choose to embrace.

What would you say is 'living in the dark ages'?
Not knowing the causes and remedy of disease, thinking that the sun revolves around the earth, among many other topics of research that have led to advancement of knowledge and the betterment of mankind?
All knowledge lifts us out of the dark.

What pisses you off, that those who are capable of supporting that which they desire may not be in alignment with what the 'people' say they want?

That's not up to the 'people'. It's up to those who have the means to do that which they will.
There are many philanthropists who contribute to schooling and medicine as well as those who delve into space exploration.

I'm not a space exploration fanatic.
I am an opponent of the destruction of society through the means of the supposedly well-meaning, but logically misguided welfare institutions that are currently in place, which are being pushed to being expanded by those who mistakenly believe that to do so would better mankind.

Welfare programs do not fall under the category of advancements in schooling or medicine.
Welfare programs, as defined in today's world, are a society-defeating, far cry from supporting those truly in need.

[UCrayCray]

Why are welfare programs the sacrificial lambs here? Why not things like medical interventions? Why are we spending money to keep deficient genes alive? Wouldn’t it be better for the survival of the human race if we stopped trying to fix these defects, and just let nature take it’s course?

I do support space exploration though. We’re going to need some place to go once we render this rock uninhabitable.

[FunkyMonkee]

So, what are we supposed to live on between now and a few hundred years from now when we're finally able to get to another planet?

[nolabels]

Hey FunkyMonkee,

Hoping that this big blue marble continues to sustain us, we'll live on the fruit of our toils, as we have for millennia.

Just as long as those flamingos don't get ahold of ya and start plonkering the daylights out of yer plinkerer.

I have good intel from Squatchette that all is well in this realm, and that old Squatch himself is just sittin' back, watching as the pretty panties run.

I believe that it was a year ago to this very day that I had a prolonged encounter with a unicorn in a somewhat different 'realm' than that which I am presently occupying, shortly thereafter becoming somewhat, no, not somewhat, I was really *PARANOID* while in that other 'realm', and subsequently besought your assistance in returning to this realm. You were kind enough to help lead me back, albeit with some small degree of tomfoolery along the way. I'm sure that was to ease the transition from that world to this.

I just got a tip from the sea lions that there's gonna be a big 'splash' coming up soon, sure to pay great dividends to those in the know.

What's the word in your local zoo?

[FunkyMonkee]

What if nobody wants to hire us or we are unable to get a set of toils?
The flamingos are still doing the flamenco in the front yard, Squtch seems to be making an appearance now and a again or, maybe those are alien pock marks in the back yard, they're too perfectly formed to be made by an animal, the only seals I've got are from Easter Island and I haven't been to the Zoo in decades. The only time I'd go past it is in the middle of the night while the lions are sleeping but, sometimes and ephamaphlunt can heard trumpeting. They love jazz!! I've had one in the band! And they work for peanuts! One likes to call himself Linus but, we all know he can't POSSIBLY be a lioness!! Maybe there's a bungle in the jungle! Sometimes, when I go by late at night, I'll even hear the sea lions roar! Unless that's the ocean! In that case, I SHOULD be hearing seagulls roar! Anyway, I think the sea lions want to be able to join the Lion's Club! That's, "club", with an l! I don't think they have the knowledge or physical ability to join a lion's CUB. Besides, how could you re-siamese twins someone? Maybe they were just looking for the Lion's Pub! Sometimes they lisp when they roar and you don't hear them right. Maybe my hearing lisps when they roar! I'm not soar, I mean, SURE! Birds soar! All except chickens, emus, ostriches and flamingos but if they peck you, that'll make YOU sore!! I've never actually seen their peckers! Have ewe? I thought not! I don't have a ewe, either! That's why I can't play Scrabble! Maybe Vanna White has one.

[Juxtapose]

Just go after the real welfare queens, corporations. Does nobody remember the bailouts?