Colin's Last Stand, Episode 9: Why NASA Matters

Colin leaving KF was indeed a blessing in disguise, and I am enjoying his content more than I actually expected. I very much appreciate the fact that he is talking slower, while still projecting his passion. However, I do have a small disagreement with one of his statements on this video. I do understand that he is a very proud American, but saying that the US has "...the greatest and bravest military force the world has ever known..." is too much of a stretch. I do believe that technologically aside, the Roman and Mongol empires had unquestionably some of the most powerful war machines known to man. I understand that Colin was making sure that his point was not taken as anti-military, but I also think that his comment would apply to the modern era.

Ricardo Uribe

More of this or even a history of NASA or a predicted history if funding and desire had stayed at Apollo levels

George Newton

One can only hope, space has always got my interest. Thanks for replying Colin, keep up the awesome work

Your argument is fair, but I'd counter you with this: Not many people are interested in nuclear energy, but it has the power to destroy the Earth for all of us. Likewise, space itself may not be interesting to all, but the ramifications of us aggressively exploring space can and will change the course of human history for all mankind. Just my two cents.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

!!!

Colin Moriarty

NASA cooperates with other space agencies, but it really is a one-of-a-kind American invention. Perhaps we can one day get really ambitious and collaborate as countries more intimately in this regard!

Colin Moriarty

Glad to hear it!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you mom!

Colin Moriarty

I'm gonna do a big video (maybe multiple parts) that proposes a full budget. How I'd do it.

Colin Moriarty

Agreed!

Colin Moriarty

Glad you agree. I want answers, too! =)

Colin Moriarty

Thank you.

Colin Moriarty

I don't own it; Ramon and his friends will make it available soon, though, I think. Once it's available, I'll let everyone know! Glad you like it.

Colin Moriarty

Glad to hear I've given you a different way to think about things!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for the kind words.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

I think that a symbiotic relationship between the private sector and NASA will be essential to extracting the most out of potential space exploration. Thank you for watching!

Colin Moriarty

Hey, thanks Molly! I'd love to take you up on that. Who would I talk to about maybe doing a CLS from there? Maybe a multi-parter?

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad we share a love for NASA, even if we can't quite rectify it with our views on government.

Colin Moriarty

Hey, thanks! =D

Colin Moriarty

Glad to hear it's a bonding moment.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you! I feel like NASA does what it does on behalf of humanity, not just Americans... ...though I do love the image of an American astronaut sticking an American flag into Mars. =)

Colin Moriarty

I agree! National pride is what it's all about.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you. Cassini is so cool!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for your feedback.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you for watching!

Colin Moriarty

Space is incredible. A subject with a million things to study.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Though I often agree with Colin and always enjoy the way he explains things, I think I disagree here. The biggest argument he makes for NASA is the sheer wonder of space. While I'll agree with the notion that the government can do great things if we keep it in check, NASA seems like a massive investment for something that only a limited amount of people find fascinating. Space travel will have to happen eventually, but with a million other urgent problems that our government should legitimately be taking care of, I don't know if this should be a priority. If it really is about an urge to be in awe of space, doesn't that sound like something that should be handled through voluntary funding?

Thomas Miranda

Best yet!

Ryan Lemieux

Awww yeeeeea!

I wish nasa was international. As a British citizen i would be 100% behind my countries government joining the funding for nasa

i loved this one!!

Colin these topic you are doing keep getting better and better. You may be lower in incoming rev but you have more subs then before! I've never been more proud to follow someone who is committed to making me think with a more open mind and making me a better person. You're a very fascinating individual and I will buy you a drink someday. Hope all is well.

Dan Cadogan

Yes! Space! Awesome job - love this. Thank you, bud. Commencing countdown...

BettyAnn Moriarty

I wouldn't mind a 5 hour video on how to slash government spending. Just sayin'.

Cory Fowler

Great Video. A decrease in military spending and an increase in funding for science and the arts would be wonderful.

Cory Fowler

I agree with you on slashing spending in many areas while maybe funding something more worthwhile and exciting such as NASA. Exploration of the unknown is so universal and something we can all get behind together. There's so much more out there than Earth. Hope writing these every week is getting somewhat easier or quicker for you. I know it's a lot of work, though I'm sure it's interesting.

Caleb Greer

I loved the new episode about 'Why NASA Matters'. Keep up the good work and I hope the move is coming along well.

Chris Canfield

Can you put a link to the music used for CLS? The worst part of your videos is that awesome closing song ending prematurely.

You made a solid argument for this one. I myself thought that the private sector could handle it from here but I have to agree that NASA's unique incentives make it something special. Good Job!

This is exactly why I'm a patreon. This is the best video you've done since the jump over. I could be biased because my love of space but I agree 100 percent. I've always been fascinated with what's out there. I have my own telescope and space maps. NASA should be funded more. Keep it up good luck with the move.

There is one issue with lopping off funds from Social Security and Medicare they are a separate tax and is the one area of government spending that itself is in Debt because other things pulling from it not it causing debt. Maybe you mean the tax we pay for that is reduced and the rest of our tax goes up, that seems like it could get very messy and as we already borrow a ton from this area to pay for other programs I think we should get the rest of spending fixed before we do too drastic a change to these programs partly as they are of dire importance to so many. The defense idea is an interesting one and I agree with at first with more thought Science and Military while doing similar things are kinda being pulled in 2 direction Science in Advancement of human understanding into the future , Military advancement purely to protect the here and now so there is a future. Maybe I am a pessimist in this area when it comes to government and those 2 sides would mesh perfectly well together and we have a greatly advancing world for all human kind (could have seen too many movies like Arrival/District 9 that tell the narrative of Defense vs Science) .

Jim Leggat

Excellent episode Colin, really enjoyed this. When I was a kid in the 80's it was all about NASA, we all marveled at their combined knowledge and ability. Somehow we lost our way and that is sad, let's hope we can change this moving forward.

Brad Russell [Toukz]

Great episode, space exploration is far more important than we tend to give it credit for. I do think you skimmed too quickly over the private sector and the space race brewing there. Specifically in the case of Blue Origin. You make a good point about profit motive in the case of SpaceX as Musk can't afford to fully self fund, but that's basically what's going on at Blue Origin with Bezos and that sweet, sweet Amazon money. They're not really concerned with profit at all, they've said as much publicly. It's an idealistic mission for them. “The long-term vision is millions of people living and working in space. We need a space-faring civilization." Bezos absolutely has the funds to completely self-fund a mission to Mars within 25 years, by then he'll likely be among the world' first trillionaires. And the reason they're starting with sub-orbital commercial space flight in the way that they have is purely because their architecture is hugely scaleable. I mean look at New Glen, it's like New Shepard's big brother. So the question is, with people who have more money than most countries funneling billions into private space programs, why increase funding to Nasa for a mars mission? So America can be the first there? Why not partner NASA with these private companies with the hope of eventually fazing it out?

Ben Fuhrmann

Possibly my favorite CLS. I've often had to make my argument of why I can decry large government yet endear NASA, as well as argue how NASA is necessary to my libertarian/anarchy-capitalist friends. Colin, this video will always be in my favorite list. I'm ashamed it took me until my junior year of college, even as a molecular biology major, to develop my fascination with NASA; it was fostered by the survey course "The Nature of Discovery" thought by one of the engineers of the shuttle missions. Thank you, Colin. This video is perfect.

Will Curry

Damn Colin! You hit another home run. But this home run didn't just hobble over the outfield wall. It cleared the bleachers, left the park, soared into the parking lot and landed with a loud clunk on someone's windshield.

Zachary T Eldridge

Great video. Not only Americans should be proud of Nasa, but the entire world. (I'm a Colombian 100% proud of what Nasa Has achieved)

Gabriel Ignacio Bustamante S.

I'm game Colin. Great episode. 1000% agree. We spend far too much on defense and could accomplish the same things we do today with a far smaller budget. It's really sad how far our space program has fallen. We need to have the national pride again to fuel our desire to get to the next frontier. And that is Mars. Let's hope policy changes and we can once again Chase our dreams. Take care.

Dan Phillips

Great episode Colin, I can't think of anything more exciting than a new Space Race in my lifetime. Also, I thought you might mention Cassini, as we speak doing loops through Saturns rings, because why the fuck not!

(1) Put NASA inside the defense department, get some symbiosis. (2) Lop off 2% of social security/medicare, use it to triple NASA's budget.

Jeremy Meyer

NASA is so cool, even a libertarian is for expanding its budget. Great episode!

I liked the episode but I felt the budget talk at the beginning went on a little too long. I almost had to check to make sure I was watching an episode about NASA. The rest was great though. Also not sure how I feel about the picture adjusting throughout the video with the CLS banner scrolling. I can at least say it caught my attention a few times.

Jon Garlit

This might be my favorite CLS yet. Curiosity and follow-up to that curiosity is so important!

Brent Lindquist

Loved this episode and love this topic. Thanks take care

Thanks for this, Colin! I share your passion for space. It might be the coolest thing in the world. I don't understand space but I can't get enough of it. And I can't comprehend why other people don't get how important it is.

Samuel

Fantastic episode

Matthew Kohlman