In November of 2012 a petition, a economic plan of huge proportions was proposed: build a Death Star. Now, why we need a weapon of such awesome and terrifying power with one very famous weak point? Even without the weakness being mentioned, the petition does remark that it would “spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense.” It does not point out that the Death Star was never meant for defense, but offense, but that’s just good politics I suppose.

Over the last three months the petition has garnered over 34,000 signatures, and over 1,000 of which came from just this week.  It also managed to solicit a response from the chief of the White House Office of Management and Budget’s science and space branch, Paul Shawcross, who begins his reply with “This Isn’t the Petition Response You’re Looking For”.

There he elucidates three rather strong points. First, that the estimated cost of building the Death Star is $850,000,000,000,000,000 (though he does not state where he got that number) and that the administration is “working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.” Secondly, he makes it clear that this administration does not “support blowing up planets”. Also, he points out that it’s a lot of money to spend on a space station “with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship.”

Lastly, they close with encouraging words fans could relate to: “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.”

The rest of the petition response is educational for people who aren’t up-to-date on space politics, and calls attention to the many interesting logistical, and legal issues with building the Death Star. He goes on expressing concern as well about maintenance of robot clean-up crews, and points out that our current President is quite handy with a light saber.

The full text for his response can be read here.