[cockerpunk]

i also think neil is talking about much more then just direct and indirect technology development. i think that is a very compelling case, but thats not the totality of his point.

he is talking fundamentally about the cultural impact and the impact on the world a culture can have by pushing boundaries, expanding horizons and investing in people and institutions that make people think, make people dream, and make people want to be scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and go out there and even if they don't work in the space program, they are the ones that design our consumer goods.

he is talking about a passion for science, engineering and technology. our culture has lost that. because we lost the cultural dreams we once had. as much as the astronauts were heroes, it was the guys with pocket protectors, and funny glasses the guys who did the math on the slide rules, and the work they did and later was built upon by the next generation ... they are the heroes. there passion is as important as any technical creation they built, or rather, the passion they inspire in our culture, the passion they inspire in our students.