Not happy about space tourist phenomenon...

[ShadowHM]

As some may already know another "space tourist" reached the international space station today.  The gentleman paid close to twenty million dollars for his trip.  I'm a little disgusted, when I think of what can constructively be done w/ $20 million dollars if donated to any number of charities.  Is there any points to this trip to this other than bragging rights and the gratification of one man's ego?

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He obviously can do whatever he wants with his money. However, I wonder if he considers the inequity of satisfying such a far-fetched dream for himself, when there are so many over all this country (US) and the world that lack even the basic necessities of life?

What do you think?
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It sure is not what I would spend twenty million bucks on. :) However, before you pass judgement too fast, remember that we know nothing of his 'other' life. For all we know, he may spend other equally large sums on more 'laudable' forms of self-gratification.

I say this because of a story I was told this summer. A dying man was released from hospital with sufficient meds to keep him 'going' for about a month. He settled his affairs, sorted out who and what people and charitable organizations would get his money, and then bought himself a brand new fancy car and went off-roading until he trashed it. :w00t: It was just one 'fun' thing he had never allowed his responsible self to do, and he decided that he deserved one moment of epic foolishness before he died. (My informant was one of his nurses.)