Reported by Lauren Davis, io9 (Jan. 11, 2013) — Once the official White House petition to secure resources and funding to begin construction on a Death Star passed 25,000 signatures, it rated a response from the White House. First, the bad news: we're not getting a Death Star. There is, however, a bit of good news: the person assigned to responding to the petition has both a firm love of science and a geeky sense of humor.
The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:
• The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
•The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
•Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?
— excerpt from the respons from Paul Shawcross, Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Read the full response at teh White House’s site:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/secure-resources-and-funding-and-begin-construction-death-star-2016/wlfKzFkN
