Any Scots or Welsh guys here - interesting comparisons

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I see the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh cost GB 414 Million whereas the Indian Mars space mission cost just shy of GB 50 million. (EIGHT !!! times less).

This is also LESS than what Tottenham Hotspur (English Premier league Football club) received for the Welsh player Gareth Bale.

Now IMO a Space program - even a modest one will eventually create 1000's and 1000,000's of long term decent securable jobs - whereas how many jobs did that building in Edinburgh create -- OK I'll grant you it generates more hot air than the exhaust of the Indian Mars rocket though.

India IMO got this absolutely right - people who say this money should be spent on other things - well this NEVER works - the money is never found - and by creating DECENT long term proper jobs is the best way OUT OF POVERTY.

(When I think of what even our tiny country paid (or will be paying) to rescue the Banks - we could have had a space program too --much better value for money).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[SIW2]

They have been doing a thing here ( less so recently ) that used to be called makework in the Soviet Union. Often via the horrendous PFI (Private Finance Initiatives) .That means it costs a hell of lot more , but is spread over a long period, passing the debt on to the next government to deal with. Nice for the big Private contractors, not for anybody else.

 

[strollin]

Sadly, the space program in the US is dwindling instead of growing. The general public doesn't see the value of a space program so NASA's budget keeps getting cut further. IMO, the US spends way too much on Defense (25% of each tax dollar) and too little on NASA (0.6 % of each tax dollar).

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

Not wishing to turn this into a totally Political debate - but the UK is spending several BILLION POUNDS on building two "Classical" Aircraft carriers which will be delivered sometime around 2015 - 2016 or later by the time these things are kitted out properly and tested.

Now it seems to me that this type of expenditure is based on PREVIOUS century's warfare -- in any case who is the UK going to fight against. It even had trouble back in the early 70's with "The Cod Wars" so I don't see the UK ever doing a Global war again - even Argentina is leaving The Falkland Islands alone - and the Spanish Navy has only the capacity of about 1 Rowing boat currently so Gibraltar is safe too.

(The Cod wars were a fishing dispute between Iceland and the Royal Navy at the beginning of the 1970's when Iceland declared a 4 mile (7 KM) fishing zone - later 12 miles (15 KM) "economic" zone around the country. Iceland then extended Fishing rights to 50 miles / 80 KM-- now long since vindicated in International Law) - these days often a 200 mile (320 KM) exclusion zone is regarded as legal in international Law where Geography permits. Territorial Limits for jurisdictional purposes was regarded as 3 miles / 5 KM - beyond which you were deemed to be "On the High Seas").

http://translate.google.is/translate?hl=is&sl=en&u=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/RRGP/CodWar.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3DThe%2Bcod%2Bwar%26biw%3D1241%26bih%3D549

(Hover over the Text to get automatic translation).

Modern war planes are likely to be based on using Drones rather than vulnerable Humans in costly aircraft flying from "Attackable and Sinkable Ships".

I'm sure even a lot of the most belligerent Air Force personnel will agree that using drones is often the best way to carry out bombing raids if that is what you need to do rather than sending out costly and slow Air Craft Carriers --these Ships are about as relevant today in modern Warfare as Cavalry is.

I'm always fazed at how WASTEFUL any government is (not just the UK) in spending money on totally unnecessary and useless projects while real useful one's such as decent infrastructure / proper health care or research projects such as space exploration or SENSIBLE RENEWABLE energy systems which will bring huge benefits to mankind and decent LONG TERM JOBS are dropped because of "Lack of Funds".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[boohbah]

412 million of that budget was for night security patrols ,

 

[jimbo45]

412 million of that budget was for night security patrols ,

Hi there
You mean there was ANYTHING in that building worth stealing !!.

 

[Everlong]

412 million of that budget was for night security patrols ,

Hi there
You mean there was ANYTHING in that building worth stealing !!.

The Scots would find something to steal.

 

[jadinolf]

Ferguson here.

Checking in.

 

[boohbah]

as a decorator and a Glaswegian we had a saying at work,
"if its nailed down paint it, if it isn't, steal it!"

 

[JimJoe]

Some of my ancstors are from Scotland, some cousins are Welsh, my most recent ancestors are Comanche.

I remember seeing on telly a few years ago about $600 hammers. They weren't actually any different that regular 5 dollar hammers. Probably the same ones, with some mil-spec[ification] label on them so they appeared to be better.