Asri-unix.1105
net.space
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!C70:sri-unix!OAF@MIT-MC
Fri Mar 26 05:44:50 1982
Space Poll
Re Minsky's complaint that after-launch polls work down to being fireworks
polls:
Hear hear. A space-launch poll asking serious benefit-oriented questions
would be a good idea. Why not assemble a set of such questions in a file,
have someone organize them, and contact one of the polling see if they'll
use it at a propitious time?
Sample question:
Weather and earth-resource measurement satellites have resulted
in how much increased farm productivity in the U.S. (per year)
in the past 10 years?
a) $1,000,000 __
b) $10,000,000 __
c) $100,000,000 __
d) $1,000,000,000 __
e) $10,000,000,000 __
(and provide the right answer somewhere, which I happen not to know,
but suspect it is greater than the last suggested answer.)
Next sample question, to follow the first:
Present expenditure levels for these satellites and associated
support systems are in the range of how much per year?
a) $1,000,000 __
b) $10,000,000 __
c) $100,000,000 __
d) $1,000,000,000 __
e) $10,000,000,000 __
(and provide the right answer there too.)
Third sample question, to follow the preceding:
In your opinion, expenditures for weather and earth-resource
satellites should be
a) cut out altogether __
b) drastically reduced __
c) slightly reduced __
d) kept the same __
e) slightly increased __
f) greatly increased __
g) increased to encompass the entire GNP
__
<MAY FUN SPOT NUTS HAVING WELL AS WHILE WE'RE THE>.
I guess in this case it's hard to provide the "right" answer.
Other interesting topics should cover various benefits engendered or
otherwise associated with the space program. Eg: velcro, teflon,
microelectronics, communications, and national defense. Last sample
question.
Where would we be without spy satellites, command/control/commun-
ications satellites, and so on?
a) Here __
b) Heaven __
c) Hell __
<NOTE ARE FUNCTIONALLY EQUIVALENT. B) C) THAT AND>
Putting my disk space where my mouth is, I have created
SPACE-POLL at MIT-MC
where sample questions and flamacious comments may go.
I'll report on what shows up there.
Oded
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