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AnimusRex -> Another Fiscal Conservative (10/13/2010 4:24:59 PM)
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Terrific- a fiscal conservative is proposing to spend gazillions of dollars to protect us from something that isn't much of a threat.
"West Virginia Republican candidate John Raese on Tuesday outlined his focus on national defense by calling for an extensive laser-based missile defense system.
A very extensive one.
"If there is a rogue missile aimed at our country, we have 33 minutes to figure out what we're going to do," Raese said at an event sponsored by the League of American Voters. "We are sitting with the only technology in the world that works and it's laser technology. We need 1000 laser systems put in the sky and we need it right now. That is [of] paramount importance."
Raese said the system would cost $20 billion.
Laser-based technology has been long discussed as a promising method for deterring missiles, but experts say that components of a system like the one Raese described are in the infant stages of research and development and would require the negotiation of staggeringly complex international treaties.
Riki Ellison, the chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said that Raese appeared to be referring to DPALs (diode pumped alkali lasers), which have shown great promise in the field of missile defense but - at least at current funding levels for the development of such programs - could take two decades to develop.
$20 Billion? We have already poured $100 Billion into such a system, and IT DOESN'T FUCKING WORK.
But meanwhile, back here on our planet, the roads are crumbling, bridges collapsing, sewers and water systems leaking and gas lines exploding (and incinerating entire neighborhoods), but gawd no, we can't spend the money to fix them, because it would cost money!
Kung Fu Monkey is right- I miss the sober, sane, pragmatic grownups of the old Republican Party- these Teahadists are just effing nutz.
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