Hypothetica in the US

>
> Still, all of the costs
> of the O'Neill plan could be covered by NASA's current budget.
>

Theoretically true, but it simply will not happen.

The present NASA budget is earmarked primarily for feeding the Shuttle
and ISS.

To start the O'Neill plan would mean cancelling those programs. While
personally I think that
would be a great approach, there are simply too many jobs in too many
districts, and too many entrenched interests for that to happen.

Any government space effort will be in "pork" mode, that is how
government works. That is not a good recipe to get where we want to
go.

Our best approach is to downsize government in general, making sure that
NASA takes their share of the cuts, or more.

I wonder who will replace Goldin, right now my favorite choice would be
Dennis Tito.