[Rhodes22-list] Asteroids! April 13, 2036 could be a very bad day for Earth - (humor, politics, Socrates, & logic)

[Robert Skinner]

Since we are all in this together where asteroids are concerned,
we may have to consider the possibility of unfettered worldwide
communication between scientists and engineers.  Preparation
H just won't do the job.

I can see the politicians running around like ants, trying to
position themselves to take credit if we survive, and the
corporate CEOs angling for the contract to implement a solution. 

In addition, the religious right crazies will be saying that it is God's
punishment for homosexual behavior, and various terrorists will be
bombing the key players in the effort, saying that it is all a plot by
the white supremacists / Christians / secularists to marginalize
whatever regime they are espousing at the moment.

Given the hysteresis generated by the above obfuscators, I doubt
we will survive a major threat from space without a dictatorship
which commandeers resources for the common good.  Is this one
instance where socialist behavior might be justified?

Your serve, Ed.
/Robert
-----------------------------------------------------------
Michael D. Weisner wrote:
> I can't figure out why we are worried about sailing, energy, fuel stabilizers, fast pins or even who is running for POTUS when we have a very real problem to be concerned about: A collision with Asteroid 99942 Apophis.  According to the latest prediction, Sunday, April 13, 2036 could be a very bad day for Earth - at least it isn't a Friday the 13th.  The most recent results will be presented at the Asteroid, Comets, and Meteors conference at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, today, July 17, if any of you in the Maryland area wish to attend (http://acm2008.jhuapl.edu/).
>
> To read more on the calculations, recalculations and predictions of a near Earth collision with a large asteroid, check out: http://io9.com/5025611/um-about-that-asteroid-that-wasnt-going-to-hit-us
>
> Mike
> s/v Shanghaid'd Summer ('81)
>        Nissequogue River, NY
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