Thanks for Commenting
yea, I agree with Mario; who needs Progress and Vision when the rapture is just around the corner.
If these guys would study Intelligent Design, they would realize that only God can run the trains on time and that man can't fly.
I'm all for progress and vision; however, when it comes to investment in new business ventures in a capitalist democracy that is supposed to be the domain of the private sector.
All the more power to Richard Branson for taking the next step in space flight. However, NM has no right to invest taxpayer dollars in the endeavor.
If it is such a great idea, give us an option on our tax returns of paying state taxes or taking the same taxable income and investing it in private ventures in New Mexico.
New Mexico is one of the poorest States in the Union and Richardson is prepared to spend $225 MILLION DOLLARS which could of been used to help New Mexican's puchase Health Insurance and the list goes on and on. The Middle Class and Poor New Mexican is going to pay the bill for Richardson's Selfish Motive (s). Richardson has lost contact with New Mexican's and their Needs and is using State Government as a Tool for his quest for President. Eli Chavez, Independent
NFL Team, The Train, A Spaceport.
When were the residents of NM asked if this is the direction that we want our state to go?
Mike
I think that "insane" may not be an appropriate word for this situation, but I agree that it's questionable public policy for government funds to prop up private enterprises.
The spaceport is just the latest example of this, and maybe not the worst one. Rich people use government funds to fly everything from hot air balloons to, now, spacecraft. It's been like that since at least 1492 when Columbus was sponsored by government funds.
Is it right? No. Is it likely to go on and on and on? Sure. The freedom of private enterprises to use their influence to persuade governments to give them money to spend for the "greater good" is not likely to be abridged under this (or any other) US administration.
I'm figuring that Richard Branson already has $20,000,000 (100 founders X $200,000) in NM taxable income which should yield at least $1,000,000 in taxes (unless the government decides to waive taxes as well on the services of the space ride).
How much do we get back from all the billions poured into bogus military research projects from federal taxes and borrowings? Now THAT'S insane!
Taxes? Yeah, right. Taxes on wages of minimum wage employees that swab the spaceport floor, maybe.
Last I heard, the entire freaking state economy rests on those "bogus military research projects". You propose an economy based on bogus vanity space flights instead?
I'm thinking of the gross receipts taxes on the services, not the income tax on the workers.
To the extent that the state economy rests on federal military expenses, the economy is corrupted.
I most certainly am NOT suggesting a quid-pro-quo of exchanging space flight income for military income. I'd just as soon get rid of both the ineffective contributions to the military/industrial complex and the contributions from, as you accurately put it, "bogus vanity space flights."
This would lessen the population of New Mexico to the level supported by non-military activity. I could live with that.
Growth based on war mongering is not progress. It's more like a cancer that corrupts everything it touches.
Whatever will we do economically if peace breaks out?
Commenting by HaloScan
