Yesterday the US launched another Mars probe. Exciting stuff.

Altho I am a political Conservative, I'm not opposed to certain grand collective efforts. Last week, there was an hour show on History Channel about the building of Hoover/Boulder dam. Wow, what a project, especially considering the technology of the day. An enterprise on such a scale is necessarily "public". In the case of Hoover dam, it is ironic that the same project today would possibly be blocked by more contemporary "progressive" thinking such as Environmentalism/Greenism or those who would rather see public expenditures on.......(name your pet program).

My question is, to what extent do you think Public Programs are good? Name some. My personal preference is for large-scale projects such as the Space Program, Hoover Dam, TVA, national monuments/parks, etc; ie programs that enoble our national spirit but could not be accomplished by the private sector alone.

I am fully aware of the tendency for large-scale public programs to become riddled by corruption, empire-building, politics, inefficiency, and sacrifice of individual rights. So, in general, I am not a proponent of massive government programs, but I think there are exceptions. A Mars Odyssey is one.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), April 08, 2001

Answers

What's a weal?

-- (like @ weasel. ?), April 08, 2001.

It's a word that Libs like---

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online

2 entries found for weal. To select an entry, click on it. (Click 'Go' if nothing happens.)

Main Entry: 1weal Pronunciation: 'wE(&)l Function: noun Etymology: Middle English wele, from Old English wela; akin to Old English wel well Date: before 12th century 1 : a sound, healthy, or prosperous state : WELL-BEING 2 obsolete : BODY POLITIC, COMMONWEAL

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), April 08, 2001.

Ah, as I suspected, no such thing.

-- (common @ wealth. oxymoron), April 08, 2001.

eh?

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), April 08, 2001.