good news - House Passes Space Tourism Bill

House Passes Space Tourism Bill.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041120/ap_on_go_co/congress_space_tourism_1

a step in the right direction... assuming they don't OVER regulate

thanks for the post!

--Ralph

i don't understand why some of the democrats opposed this. that makes me angry, and i'm a radical liberal.

Some reasons why Democrats opposed this bill:

1. Democratic sponsorship by trial lawyers wishing to get their piece of the new space age.
2. Philosophical difference on the role of government. Democrats - the state looks out for the welfare of the unwary citizen by protecting them from themselves. Republicans - provide minimum government interference needed to allow citizens life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. This is a very gross oversimplification that can easily have holes poked into it, but as a generalization it usually works. Republicans (again, in general) favor less regulation, not more.

One question - Kerry space program proposals notwithstanding, are Democrats more opposed to space travel than Republicans? If that's the case, voting for something that represents space travel even if it doesn't cost the government dollars could just be a reaction based upon past attitudes. I know that the Green party does tend more towards the Luddite mentality, but what about the Democrats?