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NASA isn't why the US doesn't have universal healthcare, or a social safety net. The US doesn't have those things because politicians with the power to provide them choose specifically not to (with varying levels of support from voters). Enthusiasm for human spaceflight doesn't drive that choice.

It's frequently pointed out that NASA activities (and basic/exploratory science in general) have a fantastic return on investment, contributing far more to the economy than they take. But even if they didn't, no one's actually taking from the "cure sick people" pot to put money in the "rockets" pot.

The problems with US government spending priorities are vast and extremely depressing/enraging much of the time. I desperately wish much more was spent on improving people's lives directly, and much less on war. Science spending just isn't really part of that particular equation.

Worth noting that the incredibly conservative Heritage Foundation did a study to try and prove Medicare for All was too expensive and even they found it would save us trillions instead. Money isn't the barrier to better things in our nation. Certainly not the tiny bit of money we give NASA.

Money is never the barrier in the U.S. It’s insecurity. I.e., some Americans are so insecure they want to keep quality services from the poor, whom they feel are “less deserving” of nice things, mostly so they can feel superior about themselves. They are afraid of what equality might look like.

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