Instead of making rocket ships, should the world's billionaires instead help solve world hunger?

Andrew Nguy, Portland, OR

"They could certainly do both and still have billions to spare."

Joel Smith, Portland, OR

"They should and easily could. They don't, because they don't care to."

Ian McDonald, Los Angeles, CA

"The odd thing about it is why anyone who fancied themselves ambitious would think it better for their legacy to settle for doing what NASA made commonplace 60 years ago than to break truly new ground on something no one had ever done before. They just want to spend money to look cool and not actually do any hard work or make any real sacrifices. Even Bill Gates, famous for his massive investments in philanthropy, has more money today than when he started giving it away."

Jen Osterhaus, Gresham, OR

I don't think these people understand the significance helping those in need, especially on their home turf. Imagine the legacy that they'd be leaving behind, if they did. I guess it isn't as "cool" as being remembered for their contribution to the tourist part of the space race in the 21st century.

The lack of struggle makes them out of touch with the rest of us. To answer that question, they can do both, but I believe tackling hunger and poverty would make a larger impact.

Isaiah Mortensen, Portland, OR

"I think it’s a complex issue. Elon Musk said he’d do it but he’d require an actual breakdown of how the money would be spent. Just saying that the billionaires could stop world hunger doesn’t make it so. It can be done, but I think countries couldn’t come together and agree on a plan for how the money would be used."

Eric Mathews, Portland, OR

"They can do both."

Gerald Ladouceur, Slingerlands, New York

"Instead of a billionaire space race, I would like to see an end poverty race."

DeAnna Gayomali, Portland, OR

"Billionaires have the capacity to do both. They should do both. Advances in other fields have been made in the course of pursuing space. And billionaires have enough money to affect actual progress in both cases."