If you believe that getting off Earth is a top priority for the species, then patronizing SpaceX has + externalitieshttps://twitter.com/zeynep/status/836618744227037184 …
-
-
Replying to @_jeffguo
Is the logic that getting off earth—hardest thing—is a priority because fixing earth—miniscule in comparison—is impossible?
3 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @zeynep
i think it's more of a hedge against something we could not protect ourselves against, like an asteroid strike
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @_jeffguo
Right, but it's pretty obvious what you need to fend of an "asteroid strike" is vastly vastly small compared to living on Mars.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
Meanwhile, back on planet earth, problems much much much more solvable than the Mars colony are helping ruin the planet.. sigh.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
it's not either/or, and this is probably better than other forms of ultrawealthy consumption (yachts?). $ would go to R&D.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
it's possible to take that kind of argument too far and point out that basically most of our money is inefficiently spent
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
and who knows, maybe the marginal benefit of a $ spent on space exploration is actually higher than in, say, follow-on drug research
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
Not against basic research, even inefficient ones, but what benefit you imagine is going to be so so outweighed by massive harm.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.