Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

There is an active “We the People – Your Voice in Government” petition to the White House/Obama administration that calls for an increase in NASA funding to one percent of the federal budget.

What’s being flagged by the petition is that for every dollar a U.S. citizen pays in federal taxes, less than one-half of one penny is allocated to the NASA budget.

Historical note: In 2013 the NASA budget was 0.49% of the budget, the lowest % since 1961, the petition adds.

Insufficient commitment?

The Moon and beyond – on what budget?
Credit: NASA

According to petition advocates in viewing today’s NASA budget: “This is an abysmally insufficient commitment to a program that has inspired so many, propelled the advancement of so much technology, and repeatedly demonstrated American leadership, ingenuity and big thinking.”

Indeed, these proponents of a NASA increase point to Europe’s recent landing of a robot probe on a distant comet. That sparked a worldwide media conversation about science.

“The U.S. needs to lead that conversation. By doing so, we can inspire much-needed passion for science in our students, create new technology and industries, all in one fell swoop.”

Petition: pro or con?

So, what’s your view?

Signatures on the petition that are needed by December 13, 2014 — to reach a goal of 100,000 – are now at 2,648 in number.

So if you’re a believer, where are those other 97,352 people?

Or do you disagree with this petition?

For more information, go to:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/increase-nasa-funding-1-federal-budget/WZk0vgc2

Also, go to the White House response for giving NASA more money at:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/doubling-and-tripling-what-we-can-accomplish-space