Wait, what?

Slashdot | How To Beat Congress's Ban Of Humans On Mars

So...does congress want to crush the hopes and dreams of aspiring American scientists and engineers? Aren't we like, supposedly falling behind, with regards to technological development, compared to the rest of the world? Shouldn't Congress be concerned about that?

The 1950s-1970's space race did amazing things both directly in terms of developing science and technology and indirectly by inspiring many to enter science and engineering professions. The problem is most of these people are retiring now, and American industry will be having serious issues replacing them and their decades of experience. It scares me that this seems to be a problem largely unconsidered outside of the engineering world.

And if it's an issue of NASA funding...FY'08 for Iraq/Afghanistan is well more than the cost of the Apollo Program (in 2006 dollars, of course)