[Unknown Target]

Cut everything to zero. Pay the soldiers. Redo the taxes so that they're fair and reasonable. Tax others. Get a decent idea of how much income we actually have for governmental operations.

Interesting plan. How do you decide what's fair and reasonable? How do you decide what programs to reinstate?

Why don't you try it and see?

If you mean myself, personally? I've done it. Rebuilt the federal budget from the ground up, in conference and solo.

Or are you asking the government to do it?

It sounds like both of us have done the "mock debating" they teach you at places where "The Best Degrees" come from?

As to answer your question, you got it right the first time - I was asking you, personally.

[General Battuta]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation. You can't just dream up a solution; you need a politically viable solution that both American politicians and the American public would actually spring for.

[Unknown Target]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

[Scotty]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

[Unknown Target]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

Maybe. Is it also possible that you can not make sense of them? Choose.

[General Battuta]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

Maybe. Is it also possible that you can not make sense of them? Choose.

ed: i'm really resisting a great burn right here, i want everyone to notice

[Unknown Target]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

Maybe. Is it also possible that you can not make sense of them? Choose.

Well I looked at your post history and it turned into a really easy choice.

Here is an opportunity to continue a cyclic line of conversation that I am willfully declining.

[Scotty]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

Maybe. Is it also possible that you can not make sense of them? Choose.

I can't make sense of them because they don't make sense.  Basic tautology.

[General Battuta]

It's a pointless exercise. It ignores the realities of the situation.

I agree.

And yet it's what you're pressing strongest in this whole thread.  Your arguments do not make sense.

Maybe. Is it also possible that you can not make sense of them? Choose.

Well I looked at your post history and it turned into a really easy choice.

Here is an opportunity to continue a cyclic line of conversation that I am willfully declining.

Oh ****, caught red-handed

[mxlm]

Once you get out of Earth's gravity well it is. The real problem is there is an upfront capital investment in spaceborne infrastructure, which has not yet been made to any significant amount unfortunately.

No, the problem is even if that were so it'd have to be more profitable than mining the earth before anyone would do it. Which, barring something like zero point energy, is more than a little unlikely.

[General Battuta]

Once you get out of Earth's gravity well it is. The real problem is there is an upfront capital investment in spaceborne infrastructure, which has not yet been made to any significant amount unfortunately.

No, the problem is even if that were so it'd have to be more profitable than mining the earth before anyone would do it. Which, barring something like zero point energy, is more than a little unlikely.

Maybe if you could get a good von Neumann swarm going it'd pay off.

[Nuclear1]

Right, that's the first thing other races need to see of us. 

PRIORITY OVERRIDE.  NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED. 
MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.

[Kosh]

Once you get out of Earth's gravity well it is. The real problem is there is an upfront capital investment in spaceborne infrastructure, which has not yet been made to any significant amount unfortunately.

No, the problem is even if that were so it'd have to be more profitable than mining the earth before anyone would do it. Which, barring something like zero point energy, is more than a little unlikely.

That's why it would have to be part of a general push into space, as in a long term investment. Precious metals would be returned to Earth while the remainder would be used to build more stuff in space.

[The E]

You do know that bulk cargo transfer from orbit to surface is a security nightmare, right?

[Unknown Target]

You do know that bulk cargo transfer from orbit to surface is a security nightmare, right?

In today's world, it simply would not happen with the speed or efficiency that it would need to become successful. Every rocket launch would be guarded closely, every passenger extensively scanned and background checked, every bit of cargo run through tests. The amount of resources required would balloon exponentially. We'd never make it off the planet.

[Kosh]

You do know that bulk cargo transfer from orbit to surface is a security nightmare, right?

And keeping our entire species on just one planetary body is a better choice? If that's the prevailing view then we deserve to go extinct.

I think that really says something about just what kind of ****ed up planet this has become when we stop ourselves from accomplishing great things because we've become so afraid of eachother.

[Unknown Target]

You do know that bulk cargo transfer from orbit to surface is a security nightmare, right?

And keeping our entire species on just one planetary body is a better choice? If that's the prevailing view then we deserve to go extinct.

I think that really says something about just what kind of ****ed up planet this has become when we stop ourselves from accomplishing great things because we've become so afraid of eachother.

This.

We should to start having a basic trust in ourselves and others to do the right thing, IMO. We should also work to carry that spirit with us as well, and apply it to other species that we may meet in the future, be them organic or digital.

[General Battuta]

Oh, please. A hundred years ago you wouldn't even have been able to get people of different skin colors to cooperate. We're doing better on that front than we ever have.

Don't confuse the problems of a decade for the problems of an era.

[Unknown Target]

Oh, please. A hundred years ago you wouldn't even have been able to get people of different skin colors to cooperate. We're doing better on that front than we ever have.

Don't confuse the problems of a decade for the problems of an era.

On that front. Blacks and whites used to trust their fellow blacks and whites much more than we trust each other now. It's easier to trust people like you when there are people not like you. Don't forget that the solutions for one era can cause the problems of the next.

EDIT: And before anyone says it, no I'm not advocating a return to segregation or for racial genetics.
One "solution" to the US's racially charged past was not to ever mention anyone's skin color or race because that might be "rude". That ends up causing more problems than it solves, IMO. Sort of like replacing hand towels with those stupid blowdryers.

[General Battuta]

On that front. Blacks and whites used to trust their fellow blacks and whites much more than we trust each other now.

Evidence?