First, I don't think Geoff was performing political vandalism if such a thing was possible. Polictics are part and parcel of life so either get a thicker skin folks or don't read this stuff.

I would like to respond here about this being about the educational "system" of the USA. It simply put it is not.

It's about intelligent well educated people not choosing NASA as an employer. Not a lack of educated people.

NASA and Space Exploration are getting very poor PR by sticking around in LEO and having nutty people running around NASA. The few anti-Mars Society/Amatuer Space Cadet posts by NASA employees here show the levels of intelligence found now at the agency!

This disinterest by the younger graduate might be in part formed by the lack of support by teachers is true, but only in part. Society in general, Television News and NASA have just as much if not more to do with this problem.