"AND I happen to believe that we are very capable of financing our own developments. It just takes some guts on the part of our political leaders."

I agree, but our gov't would rather bail out those who should be able to make it on their own legs or take their place in oblivion. They wanted to look like big US politicians protecting their buds. It's always of interest how things happen in waves even globally. Consider the poor excuses for leadership in both the US and Canada and in so many other parts of the world. They've all been riding the same gravy train and have become selfimportant and immune to the considerations for their populations. It's the same with big biz all downsizing or rather......re-structuring to increase profits at the expense of those who actually built their companies. The outstanding problem lies in the lack of a direction for human kind. Money/profit is the only direction and everyone seems to be taking it. No team effort here..... it's the king of the castle. I guess we need a good war to straighten things out eh to show everyone what team they're on? Well I hope those space aliens who are out there watching to see if we are worthy intervene soon to at least save the planet from those without a brain to appreciate it. I've never been on an alien craft....wouldn't mind a ride.