> SpaceX wasn't built from scratch.

How is that a relevant point at all to what the parent said?

The US produced it. The US produced NASA. Why shouldn't SpaceX benefit from NASA and vice versa.

SpaceX is doing taxpayers a tremendous service by having replaced the disaster that was the Space Shuttle and its $500m launch costs. To say nothing of SpaceX hopefully getting us back to the moon and then on to Mars. Left to NASA (and or the prior launch monopoly), how long would that have taken and how much would it have cost? See: SLS. They're better off working together, contributing what they're good at, resulting in a better overall outcome.

Western Europe's economic dynamism is overall shockingly bad. And their stagnation in terms of innovation and new wealth creation is similarly bad. In terms of old wealth vs new wealth it's the worst among major economic regions - they're still turning over the same old family fortunes decade after decade. The old dynastic wealth is strangling Western Europe.

There is a price to be paid for the approach that Western Europe follows. Across the long-term they're falling further and further behind the US and China in strength, both economic and military. Europe risks becoming a colony split between two superpowers. Both Merkel and Macron are fully aware of that, they see the power gulf. If the US were politically wise, it'd be subtle with how it handles Europe, keep them asleep at the wheel (Trump's belligerence nearly spooked them into action by reminding them of their weak positioning).

Here are the economic engines - the economic might - of Europe:

Germany GDP: 2021 $4.3t (2021 IMF estimates) | 2008 $3.7t ($4.8t inflation adjusted)

UK GDP: 2021 $3.1t | 2008 $2.9t ($3.7t adjusted)

France GDP: 2021 $2.9t | 2008 $2.9t ($3.7t adjusted)

Italy GDP: 2021 $2.1t | 2008 $2.4t ($3.1t adjusted)

Russia GDP: 2021 $1.7t | 2008 $1.7t ($2.2t adjusted)

Spain GDP: 2021 $1.4t | 2008 $1.6t ($2.1t adjusted)

Netherlands GDP: 2021 $1t | 2008 $950b ($1.2t adjusted)

Poland GDP: 2021 $650b | 2008 $533b ($689b adjusted)

Sweden GDP: 2021 $622b | 2008 $517b ($669b adjusted)

Belgium GDP: 2021 $580b | $515b ($666b adjusted)

US GDP: 2021 $22.6t | 2008 $14.7t ($19t adjusted)

China GDP: 2021 $16.6t | 2008 $4.6t ($5.9t adjusted)

Notice anything interesting?

Greece and Italy have seen zero net economic growth in roughly 30 years. Germany and France have seen zero net economic growth in 26 years.

Wait a minute, that is surely impossible? Germany is an economic juggernaut, everyone says so. Germany GDP 1995: $2.6t. That's $4.5t in today's dollar, their GDP estimate for 2021 is $4.3t. France's GDP was $1.6t in 1995, which is $2.9t in today's dollar, their GDP estimate for 2021 is $2.9t.

For Germany, their economy has net contracted over 26 years. Germany and France are already so far deep into their economic malaise they've nearly lost a full generation to it.

The UK was at $3.1t in 2007. That's $4.1t in today's dollar. Their 2021 estimate is $3.1t. They're down a trillion dollars. They've added nearly 10% to their population in that time. That's a lot less economy per person. What does that process do to social costs and services over time, as well as the burden per capita?

Spain's economy is 7% larger than it was in 1990, while their population has expanded by 20% in that time.

Sweden's GDP in 1990: $261b; $560b in today's dollar. Their 2021 estimate is $625b. That's three decades to grow 12% (their population increased by ~20% in that time). Finland was $141b in 1990; $302b in today's dollar. Their 2021 estimate is $300b, so zero economic growth in a generation.

Austria's GDP in 1995: $241b; $437b in today's dollar. Their 2021 estimate is $481b. Roughly 10% growth over 26 years. Their population expanded by 10-11% in that time.

Belgium's GDP in 1995: $288b; $523b in today's dollar. Their 2021 estimate is $578b. Roughly 10% growth over 26 years. Their population has expanded by 14% in that time.

Since 2008 the US has added economy equal to: Germany + France + Netherlands. China's outcome speaks for itself. Europe is at risk of losing an entire generation to zero or negative economic growth, while social costs keep increasing. That's obviously an unsustainable, looming disaster. It's tilting Europe into a position of subservience (and that includes Russia in regards to China).

But growth isn't everything? Sure, if the cost of living stays comparable and social costs don't climb, which hasn't been the case over the last three decades as populations have continued to age in affluent nations.