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Reagan's plan to shoot down ICBM's from space or 'Star War' was something that scared the former Soviet Union into realizing they couldn't keep up with the US tech./financially and led them (in combination with other things) to say NO MAS. The 'opportunity cost' of the program seems rather small when you consider that it helped to end the cold war.

If that same tech. saves the world from Mutual Assured Destruction from a rogue nation like Iran or Kim Jun "Mentally" Ill's N. Korea---Is that a bad thing?

As for the question of Socialized medecine---just ask some Canadian's how much they like it. Sure their visit to the dentist is free, but by the time they finally get in for a cavity filling--the tooth that was aching already fell out.