One of the more popular petitions on the White House’s We the People Web site has been that to build a Death Star, similar to the one created by Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies. Now the petition has been rejected, and with good reason.

The petition was signed by 34,435 people, and an official statement has been made by Paul Shawcross, chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. In that statement, he says:

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. The Administration does not support blowing up planets. However, look carefully and you'll notice something already floating in the sky — that's no moon, it's a space station! Yes, we already have a giant, football field-sized International Space Station in orbit around the Earth that's helping us learn how humans can live and thrive in space for long durations.

He continued, hilariously, with a logic bomb:

Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that could be exploited by a one-man starship?

The petition, if accepted, would see construction begin on the project by 2016. In addition to making no sense to begin with, the construction costs would be astronomical and are estimated to be at $850 quadrillion. I wonder if those 34,435 people are willing to see their tax dollars get raised yet again, and for no reason other than to re-create something from a science fiction movie?

For those who still want to see the Death Star built, Shawcross added that there are ways to enjoy the technology we currently have:

We don't have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the space station, a President who knows his way around a light saber and advanced (marshmallow) cannon, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is supporting research on building Luke's [robotic] arm, floating droids, and quadruped walkers. We are living in the future! Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field. If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

Well played, White House. Well played.

Click below to see Luke Skywalker destroy the Death Star:

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