According to NASA, a large asteroid, about ten times the size as the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, is approaching earth with a 90% chance of impact. The impact and aftermath is expected to kill all, or almost all, of life on earth and will certainly lead to the end of the human race. However, there is a plan to avoid this scenario. It calls for the launching of a space shuttle near the asteroid that will alter the asteroid's orbit. The plan is expected to reduce the chance of impact to 5%. Due to the rushed timing and enormous size of the shuttle needed, NASA estimates the price at 100 billion dollars.
An appropriation by congress is needed for this emergency project to go forth. While many stress the incredible urgency of the situation, many centrists and fiscal conservatives are worried about the cost to the American people.
In a recent interview on Meet the Press, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell weighing in:
Due to the Democrats' wasteful spending, our deficit has already risen to unprecedented levels. We can't keep borrowing money like this; it would be irresponsible. The American people are tired of it! If this asteroid deflection plan passes, our children and grandchildren will remember this moment as when their futures were forfeited. What what we really need to be doing is cutting spending and easing the tax burden on our corporations so they can keep on creating jobs like they've been doing these last few decades.
On This Week House Minority Leader John Boehner had this to say:
There seems to be a misconception about the Republican position on asteroid deflection. We're not against deflection; we just disagree with the Democrats' way of going about it. We know the planet earth is the least likely planet to be hit by a large asteroid in the solar system and it's our free market system that does it. We need a free market approach to get rid of this asteroid. The American people don't want a bureaucrat between their planet and celestial objects.
Dissatisfaction with the plan goes across party lines. Blue Dog Mike Ross mentioned his concerns:
Many of us Blue Dogs are concerned. We shouldn't be rushing into more massive spending when we already have spent so much this year. If instead we have a trigger set to go off if the asteroid is within a thousand miles of earth, we can make sure we aren't wasting any more money.
Senator Baucus is also apprehensive, instead advocating a contract for campaign contributor, Deflect Industries:
We're moving to fast without considering the costs. Providing subsidies to private based asteroid deflection companies is the way to go. Recently started companies like Deflect Industries could do a much better job at deflecting asteroids than the government can.
President Obama has urged a bill to be passed, but stresses cooperation:
I'm confident both sides of the aisle can come together to pass this asteroid deflection plan that the American people need. Now is the time for action. However we need this to be done in a new way. We can't practice the same old politics. We have to come together and work out a solution taking input from everyone all across the political spectrum.
Many conservative media voices are skeptical.
Glenn Beck held nothing back in his criticisms. On his Fox News show, Beck stuck his head out of a window stating:
Look no meteor NASA. Just a bunch of stars like there always are. How convenient that the asteroid is only visible in the southern hemisphere now. How gullible do the Democrats think we are?
Rush Limbaugh echoed a similar statement:
According to NASA, part of Kenya is supposed to be in the direct path of the asteroid. A coincidence? I think not. This is just more of Barack Hussein Obama's betrayal of America.
What do the American people have to say about the issue? Not ready for action, according to the latest Rasmussen poll:
Are you for or against the congressional Democrats' proposed plan to doom our children's future in order to build a metal cylinder and deflect a rock?
44% for 54% against 2% undecided
The bill's progress through both houses has been rough. A version has passed the House 219-212, but not before being watered down. The House version appropriates ten billion for a ship that NASA claims will reduce the chance of impact from 90% to 85%. However, A bill this strong is unlikely to pass the Senate in final form.