Milky Way Days: Returning to the new frontier.

NATIONAL REVIEW ^ | December 03, 2003, 8:58 a.m. | Dennis E. Powell

[demlosers]

The World Socialists will DEMAND a UN Resolution Approving the US Base on the moon!

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

But if Bush seriously proposes going back to the Moon, to the point that there's actually money committed, people hired, etc., then I might consider holding my nose and voting for him.

Let me guess, you like wearing women's clothes, don't you?

[Willie Green]

Maybe Bush will put a choo-choo train on the moon to make you happy Willie.

No, not on the moon.
But Maglev right here on the good ol' terra firma of the USA would benefit a helluva lot more taxpaying passengers.
Sheeeeesh. How many of us will actually travel to the Moon anyway?

Between the Medicare drugs and now this moon thingie, Dubya is sounding more like a Kennedy wannabe everyday.

Why doesn't he take a clue from IKE and build something we can ALL travel on?

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[Doe Eyes]

No imagination. Don't you agree?

Its not like we would raise taxes to pay for it. We'll just borrow more money. Whoopee!! We shouldn't have to pay for it. Long live the deficit. It will be our mark on America.

[AZLiberty]

Why redesign a proven system?

Why?

Because in the last 30+ years, technology has actually advanced 30+ years. The space program should be privatized, and launches should be sponsored -- not by the government -- but by far-sighted companies and individuals. Picture the Sam Walton Memorial outpost, and the Gates-funded desktop mineral processing system, and the Waste Management Corp. lunar recycling center.

With modern technology, including maximal use of robots instead of people, and private enterprise, it could be done at a small fraction of the original price.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Its not like we would raise taxes to pay for it. We'll just borrow more money. Whoopee!! We shouldn't have to pay for it. Long live the deficit. It will be our mark on America.

Well, we don't hardly manufacture anything anymore and software jobs are being slowly siphoned off to India. But, as you say, let's not try to do anything that will improve the stature of our country or provide a better future for our children. Let's play it safe, don't take risks, don't venture forth into uncharted territory like our forefathers did. Ever heard of Lewis and Clark?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Another unimaginative do-nothing.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... The space program should be privatized, and launches should be sponsored -- not by the government -- but by far-sighted companies and individuals. Picture the Sam Walton Memorial outpost, and the Gates-funded desktop mineral processing system, and the Waste Management Corp. lunar recycling center."

Picture a private company actually needing a moon base.

Picture a privatized space company CEO stealing billions of investor's finances and buying a $60,000 shower curtain for his sexy Russian housekeeper amongst other lavish stolen gifts.

Picture Martha Stewart being arraigned wearing a space helmet.

Nobody but governments are interested in space, and nobody but governments have the inclination or means to fund such a massive project.

[Willie Green]

Another unimaginative do-nothing.

I gotta admit, I can't picture myself ever riding on an armored Segway either.

[EverFree]

"The shuttle program has been so frustrating to scientists that it was characterized by Bruce Murray, former head of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as "a giant WPA in the sky.""

ROTFL, Bush should put this guy in charge of something to replace or supplant NASA.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Returning to the moon will reinforce our patriotism.

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...not as effectively as cutting taxes would!

[Atlas Sneezed]

But Maglev right here on the good ol' terra firma of the USA would benefit a helluva lot more taxpaying passengers.

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Trains are socialist, unless paid for by private investment and the patrons.

(And why worry about whether the train is riding on magnets or wheels?)

[Willie Green]

And why worry about whether the train is riding on magnets or wheels?

Magnets are faster, more efficient and require much less mechanical maintenance.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Because in the last 30+ years, technology has actually advanced 30+ years.

---

Indeed. Advanced enough that FAR more mission objectives can be achived for a given billion dollars by leaving the humans at home.

[My2Cents]

In 1984, when his Democratic opponent questioned the costs of the manned space program, President Reagan called for its continuance, saying, "The American people would rather reach for the stars than reach for excuses why we shouldn't." (GOVERNOR REAGAN, Lou Cannon, pg. 120)

[The Iguana]

I'll pony up if this is the new headquarters for MoveOn.

[MattGarrett]

It's short sighted rocket scientists like you that killed Apollo short of it's glory, T2D. Did it ever occur to you that for every job in the Apollo program, there were 5 others created to support it? That's 400,000 turning into 2 MILLION JOBS. Most HIGH TECH. The Apollo program brought you over 50,000 products which YOU, T2d take for GRANTED. Look around your house. EVERYTHING, from corningware, to laptops, to pens, to steel belted radials, to your satellite TV transmission, even teflon and Tang are the children of Apollo.

Waste? HARDLY.

I saw we're OVERDUE to go back.

[AZLiberty]

Nobody but governments are interested in space, and nobody but governments have the inclination or means to fund such a massive project.

The same was once true of the Internet, when it was known as the Arpanet. We've come a long way since.