> > But the truth is that not one dollar of U.S.government cash has ever been shot into space. Those dollars always go to companies all over the country, and most of it winds up in the pockets of working people. This stimulates the economy like nothing else. Well, not exactly,`because wars stimulate the economy pretty much the same way, but the choice is a no-brainer.
>
> As much as I'm in favor of a space program, this argument is a bit flawed. The reason is that the government doesn't make money (err, okay, it does, but it tries to only print currency, not create wealth), it redistributes it. Thus, in the case of a space program or a military campaign, the government is really taking money from some people via taxation and giving it to aerospace/defense contractors.

Bastiat was not an economist, but he is known for having been the best, most understandable economic writer. In the linked-to page, scroll down just a bit to "1. The Broken Window." It's all of 16 short paragraphs.

> All that said, I favor spending a few billion dollars to go to Mars, but that's just because I think rockets are neat.
>
> Stephen

I want to go.
-Gabe