“$3 Million Overhead Projector” fact checking
October 9, 2008 by Andy Martin
Zeiss Mark VI sky projector
Ok, this will be one of the only politcally related posts you see on this blog (other than, of course, comparing McCain/Palin to Tigh/Roslyn for the BSG ticket, but that was more humor than political). I normally don’t talk much politics as it tends to be an extremely personal thing to most people and feelings get hurt too easily over it. I keep my views and leanings to myself, unless there is a technological aspect to it that I can’t keep my mouth shut on (Net Neutrality, for one). That being said, I’m going to be really glad when this brutal election season is over, as I’m really tiring of crap like this from both sides
In Tuesday’s town-hall style debate, McCain was trying to make a point about Obama’s willingness to approve “pork-barrel” spending and earmarks to bills that go through Congress. This has happened for many, many years and, in my opinion, is an overall weakness to the political process itself. Bills should be passed on their own merit and hang-on allotments should not be allowed - they should be submitted in their own bills, but that’s kind of a tangent to this discussion anyway. One example of an earmark that Obama supposedly supported was for a, and in McCain’s own words,
While we were working to eliminate these pork barrel earmarks he (Senator Obama) voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects. Including $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?
The guys over at Gearlog did some research to find out exactly what McCain was talking about. You can get a pretty kick-ass 1080p projector for less than $5,000, so what kind of “overhead projector” could they possibly be wasting $3 Million on? Well, the planetarium references was the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and it wasn’t exactly a classroom overhead projector they were asking for. From their press release on Wednesday after the debates,
Adler Planetarium Press Release: The Adler’s Zeiss Mark VI projector - not an overhead projector - is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler’s projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler’s 78 years of operation.
The proposed Mark IX
So, we’re talking about one of the large projectors in the center of a plantarium that shows the night sky for sky shows - quite a different monster than a overhead projector as McCain kind of made that sound. As they stated, their current one is 40 years old and now out of support for parts and service, meaning if something breaks on it, the planetarium is out of business. Personally, sounds like a good purchase to me, and museums do get federal funding along with private endowments, so I don’t fully see what the real issue is here (except for my earlier stated disdain for extra things being thrown into unrelated bills to ride on their coattails for approval).
As Gearlog closes with, there is a side discussion on whether or not the cost should be footed by taxpayer dollars or through revenue or endowments to the planetarium. But it’s hard to have that discussion when the introduction to the issue is so slanted for purely political reasons. I can remember going to Morehead Planetarium at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill when I was a kid, and another planetarium at the Smithsonian museum in DC (Dad, if you’re reading this, as a father now I can fully appreciate why you fell asleep in there - chairs lean back, lights go out, kids keep you up all night so yeah, it’s a perfect recipe for sleep. I’ll just try not to snore when I take Alex to one 
). It helped to fuel my passion for science, astronomy, and science fiction. Having a kid who is obsessed with the universe, I cannot wait to take him to a planetarium as well someday, and I’d be really dismayed if this type of museum goes away because there were no funds allocated to it along with other federally or state funded museums. But that, as I said, is an entirely different discussion.
The whole issue is a moot point, though, as the funding was not passed and the planetarium didn’t get their new “overhead projector” anyway.
Original at Gearlog, via Gizmodo. Also, great write up in the Chicago Sun Times. Image credit to Jean Lachat/Sun-Times.
No related posts.
I remember when we were both space-obsessed kids; camping out in the driveway to watch an eclipse or meteor shower. Yes, planetariums fuel that interest. Yes, it is good for society (and economy) and culture to promote interest in, and knowledge of, the sciences. And, yes, our tax dollars should be used to that end because it benefits us all.
I’ll also be glad when the election is over. Both candidates are killing me with their half-truth talking points. And McCain/Palin are scaring me with the new strategy of whipping up crowds into angry mobs.
@beth -
Agreed, and I’m also concerned with the mob mentality going on. Next thing you know, Obama will be labeled a terrorist (he already is by some accounts) and a socialist (which to some seems to be worse than a terrorist) and be tied to the stake and burned like a witch. McCain is behind in the polls, and lashing out in this way seems to be the only way politicians know how to act when they are behind. Don’t try to elevate or promote yourself above the other candidate, try to bring him/her down so they look worse than you. I’ve never liked that strategy when any candidate does it, but its so systemic in government that there’s no way it’s going to change anytime soon.
Andy, you sound very much like me responding to all the crap I get. I am in the unenviable position of being a liberal in a conservative State so I try to stay out of it but sometimes, just can’t help myself. My champagne is on ice for election night, either for celebration or sorrow drowning. At least I will be able to breath Nov. 5th whatever happens.
@Marty -
We’ll be in Disneyland during the election (got our early ballots in the mail yesterday, so yes, we’ll still be voting), but I’m sure we’ll be watching how it all pans out during the trip. It will just be so nice not to see more of this political crap, really both sides have some guilt in it at this point. Why is it so hard for people to run clean campaigns?
Well McCain doesn’t know how to use a computer, so what do you expect? He’s not exactly tech-savvy!
My take on this brouhaha. I think McCain knew perfectly well what this was for. I think his brain, like mine sometimes, just couldn’t find the word he wanted to use. This is completely consistent with his general philosophy that the federal government should not be involved in projects that have only a local benefit. He would argue that funds should be raised from the local population through state or local taxes or private endowments.
I can see the usefulness of this kind of federal expenditure for the general educational benefits it results in - as evidenced by the memories of Andy and Beth - as well as it’s potential for sleep disorder therapy. But if we provide federal tax funds for this, it should be as a part of a wider federal science education program, not an adhoc grant which doesn’t have to compete against other uses of taxpayer funds. Given the plight we’re in now with the federal budget, many of these “pork barrel” projects, even though they provide a public good, will have to be curtailed.
McCain is right that the use of these “pork barrel” project to gain political currency by incumbents is a form of political corruption - one practiced by both parties- and should cease.
I think both Obama and McCain agree on this. It’s part of the change they both propose. In practical terms I don’t think either of them can be successful. The money involved, when compared with other things they want to do, is too small to pick their fight here.
@Jack -
I agree 100%. I’ve never been a fan of the add-on “pork barrel” appropriations added to bills to ride on the coattails. It’s not right to have a bill for one primary purpose, with appropriations added for things for individual jurisdictions that have no relation to the bill at all. A bill should be for that one item, and add-ons should not be allowed, that does need to change. Now, maybe like you say, a single federal education bill should be proposed that would cover things like this on a national level. I received emails from several planetariums after posting this and it seems that most have that same old model and are in trouble.
This campaign is just plain tiring to me, though. At this point I almost don’t care who wins just as long as this pointless bickering over things somewhat out of context stops. We should be able to take both candidates on their strengths, determine their weaknesses without all the mud-slinging and half-truths, and get this over with. You betcha’
I understand the fatigue with the campaign. The 24 hr media doesn’t give us a break. They analyze and re-analyze everything and if there isn’t anything substantive in the news cycle, they create something.
Makes you long for the Paris Hilton/Brittany Spears news cycles - at least that was easier to ignore.
If its a help, there probably isn’t much difference no matter who wins. There’s so much inertia in the system, separation of powers and more limited possibilties due to the economic and world situation that it is unlikely that either of them can make much of a difference unless they able to project more leadership than either has demonstrated so far.
I also agree that the ad hoc, porkbarrel method of funding isn’t right. I could be convinced that local projects should be locally funded (or regionally).
I *used* to think that it didn’t matter much who was in office because the ’system’ is in charge. I’ve changed my mind on that. I really think the Bush administration has done a lot of damage. Between the signing statements, Guantanamo, extraordinary renditions, waiving enviro studies for gas/oil jobs, and taking my shoes off at airports, I’m convinced that the president actually does have power.