“We dissent to implementing indiscriminate cuts to NASA science and aeronautics research because this will leave the American people without the unique public good that NASA provides. Basic research in space science, aeronautics, and the stewardship of the Earth are inherently governmental functions that cannot and will not be taken up by the private sector. Furthermore, NASA has a nearly threefold return on investment in economic activity, and supports national security by ensuring the United States maintains its lead in science and technology.”
-Just one of many points in a letter to NASA’s Interim Administrator Sean Duffy from more than 300 current and former NASA employees, labeled as the NASA Voyager Declaration. Probably employees from every federal agency could issue a similar appeal (okay, maybe not the ICE employees) given the unwarranted and poorly-targeted cuts wiping out science-driven programs. We need such statements to remember what is important about these programs, and how petty politics will diminish our nation. It’s been quite a few years since a German priest nailed a statement to a church door highlighting great abuses by Church authorities. Sometimes history rhymes.
Our Awesome Universe 