A while back, someone here argued that Nasa's manned program could be seen as a "bridge" to space that would pay for itself in societal benefits. I responded that one could as easily wave one's arms about federal spending on a "bridge to the deep ocean" that would supposedly pay for itself too.
Tom Delay is way ahead of me:
A little-noted provision backed by Representative Tom DeLay of Texas . . . would bypass Congress's normal spending process to funnel up to $2 billion over 10 years into research for recovering oil and gas from the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Supporters of what some lawmakers refer to as the "DeLay ultra-deep-water provision" say it is crucial to developing new technology. . . . Mr. DeLay's spokesman, Dan Allen, defended the move, saying, "American consumers will ultimately benefit from this provision because it will reduce our dependence on foreign energy and, more importantly, reduce personal energy costs." But the direct spending on behalf of oil and gas companies, coming at a time when Congress is trying to tighten its belt and energy profits are up, strikes some as unjustified.
I think these arguments are a little too easy to make.
And I thought I was making it up...