An annual tradition started by President George Washington, the State of the Union address is an opportunity for the president to connect with the American people on an individual level, informing the public about the country’s affairs.
President Barack Obama was charismatic in his Jan. 27 address, which covered hot topics ranging from job creation to immigration reform.
The president called attention to issues often avoided by other politicians, such as the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. But it was what he did the next day that surprised many people.
Obama announced major budget cuts to NASA that will deny the agency the $3 billion it needs for a manned lunar mission, effectively scrapping five years’ worth of plans for the Ares I rocket that was supposed to eventually serve as the successor to the space shuttle.
Under the budget cuts, NASA will focus on environmental research, becoming an “environmental analysis agency.”
Some conservatives say that Obama’s plans for environmental analysis basically involve the program spending a great deal of its resources researching global warming — something many Americans don’t believe in.
These plans for the future of NASA hit home hardest in Texas and in Florida, where NASA’s two most-used launch facilities are located.
Though White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag has insisted that NASA will continue to invest in robotics for long-term missions to Mars under the new plan, the idea of canceling manned missions to the moon seems counterproductive.
Liberals constantly call for the use of energy sources alternative to non-renewable products but are now proposing massive budget cuts to a program that could potentially lead to the discovery of such resources.
Our country is in a deplorable economic state; the U.S. has a $1.35 trillion deficit, which is expected to increase to $1.6 trillion in the upcoming year.
But despite all the money that has been spent on war and fixing an economic slump, the scariest realization is how little has been spent on progressive programs such as NASA that will better our lives and those of future generations.
Obama is supposed to represent progression and change, so why not invest in a program that may very well someday save humanity?
Liz Price is a communication junior and may be reached at [email protected]
