GREGG EASTERBROOK makes this asinine statement in his diatribe against the space initiative.

"Present systems for getting from Earth's surface to low-Earth orbit are so fantastically expensive that merely launching the 1,000 tons or so of spacecraft and equipment a Mars mission would require could be accomplished only by cutting health-care benefits, education spending or other important programs—or by raising taxes."

This is what most people think when they talk about spending on space. They see estimates on the cost, which is spread over 20 years or so, and they think of it as being concentrated into one year's budget. The space initiative will not take one penny from health-care benefits and education. Again I say if you take the entire NASA budget for one year and give it to health and welfare it wouldn't be noticed. Less than 1% is negligible compared to 36%