Government spending.
 

So I am watching a show on national geographic last night about asteroids. They were showing the destructive power of asteroids and so on. Now this show typically gives both view points when there are two different views. Yet this one did not have scientists with different views. Basicly they all agree that it is not a matter of if but just a matter of when earth will be nailed by an asteroid.
Even one that is just several hundred pounds could cause a shit load of damage, let alone any that are of considerable size that also cross earths orbit.
Nasa does have a program in place to find and track as many of these orbit crossing asteroids, and hopes to have it completed before 2008. Apparently the US via Nasa is the only one really working on this issue. They also have a skeleton staff and a laughable budget.

Now how is it we can spend billions on rebuilding after huricane damage, ear mark billions more for a bird flu, spend even billions more fighting a war and so on. Yet this program has an annual budget of 4 million dollars.

Before anyone answers, the number they gave giving our odds are 1:20,000 that is a better chance than someone getting struck by lightning.

Thoughts?

I guess because the bird flu, hurricane and other natural calamities are more pressing problems,at least as the country sees it. No asteroid has hit the earth yet in our time. There is no alarming threat yet but of course, better safe than sorry so it's not a bad idea to do something about this now.

Because George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People.

The general public cares much more about issues that are relevant today than issues that may be relevant some day.

"They spend billions helping other countries but they don't give me enough money to pay for dinner!"

Pork barrel baby! Find a Senator that cares and you'll see a bigger budget.

Especially if he can make others care as well.

the man is bringing us down. we must rise up.

stick it
 

Stick it 2 the man

Well not sure about that, sure in our time but not everybody who is still alives time. One struck siberia in the early 1900's.
Just happened to hit a location that was not really inhabited.