Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.issues From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: issues Mon, Feb 17 1992 Date: Mon, 17 Feb 92 06:46:35 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: Issues & Debate USA TODAY Update Feb. 17, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network Here are some of the issues and topics being debated across the nation Monday morning in USA TODAY: NASA; Candidates; Primary. TODAY'S DEBATE - NASA: USA TODAY'S OPINION: Not even Fantasy Land is exempt from practical concerns. NASA, which has made mankind's wildest dreams come true, is finally facing some old-fashioned, earthbound realities. Tough economic times are forcing the space agency to scale back some of its most ambitious projects - like a space station the size of the U.S. Capitol. Last week, NASA Administrator Richard Truly resigned under pressure, reportedly because the big projects he fought for are losing favor. In fact, the turn away from big projects may not yet have gone far enough. The public still does not grasp the space agency's goals, and is unlikely to support big bucks for space exploration until it does. The purpose of the planned space station still is muddy despite more than $4 billion already spent on it. ... President Bush wants to reach Mars by 2019. That's a dream worth chasing, but with one eye firmly fastened to the bottom line. OTHER VIEW: ALCESTIS OBERG, co-author of "Pioneering Space: Living on the Next Frontier." Just when the USA claims world leadership in a high-tech industry, someone suggests we stab it dead and divert research dollars to help economize. It took us 30 years to become the undisputed leaders in aeronautics and space and now, with military cutbacks, the aerospace industry is bearing the brunt of the recession. Worse, aerospace and other space-program technologies like computers, advanced propulsion, robotics, environmental monitoring and materials processing are crucial future high-tech industries - all targeted for cutthroat competition by aggressive European and Japanese competitors. ... If anything, the space research budget should be increased to include bolder ventures such as mining the asteroids for strategic ores, using space solar collectors for energy instead of foreign oil and developing planetary engineering to help us repair the ozone layer. Don't sacrifice these opportunities to a bottom-line mentality - that's what brought us the space program we have today. VOICES ACROSS THE NATION ON QUESTIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: RIVERSIDE, Calif., Helen Sanematsu, 24, museum editor: I'd ask them less about their immediate objectives and more about their ideas for long-term solutions. We need people concerned about restructuring to head off future problems. In health care, we need answers not just in terms of political marketing for today - but a broader-based approach. HAXTON, Colo., Devin Newth, 18, student: Do you think you have a chance in the elections? There's a lot of them that seem pretty shaky. I'd tell them good luck. Don't screw around. Basically be an honest person. And don't be disappointed if you lose. PALM BAY, Fla., Kris Bishop, 38, occupational therapist: What are you going to do about the economy? Some of the things that Bush is saying don't seem to be long-range plans. We need to look at long-range plans, not a $300 tax break. I don't have a solution, but I'm sure there is one out there. KINSMAN, Ohio, Nick Border, 43, union representative: What do they plan on doing to get the economy going, and what would they do for veterans as far as service goes for hospitals? I'm a disabled veteran myself, and I'm concerned about hospital staffing as well as the care that's needed for hospitalized veterans. SYRACUSE, N.Y., James Render, 57, truck driver: I would ask about the economy. Too many people are losing their jobs and too many places are closing up. The main problem now is the economy and the terrible state it's in. I think foreign trade is really hurting us. We're bringing too many goods in and not getting enough goods out. TOPIC - THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY: GINGER CULPEPPER, 55, president of the New Hampshire League of Women Voters since last June and professor at Plymouth State College, was interviewed by USA TODAY's Leslie Phillips. WITH ONE DAY TO GO, HOW ARE NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS RESPONDING? They're concerned about the bashing. They don't like the Japan-bashing, Bush-bashing, Congress-bashing. They just feel that's counterproductive. VOTERS SAY THEY DON'T LIKE NEGATIVE ADS, BUT EXPERTS SAY THEY WORK. It's a cultural thing. SO WHAT'S THE CURE? We have to say, "We, the press, are not going to put up with this because we feel this is not getting the facts out. We, the people, aren't going to put up with this because we don't want to be manipulated. We, the political organizations, are keeping an eye on this because this is not the kind of image we want for the United States. WHAT IS IT THE VOTERS WANT? The voters want something more issue-oriented. Something that's more informative. Stop reducing it to the lowest level, which is what's happening. It's been happening for a while. Issues & Debate Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 08:0002170000D0217 PERS-R B Biotech-stocks-on-the-decline......... A D0217 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM