Consider the situation if the Chinese have unfettered access to the moon while we have none. What might they do?
Besides which, what will it do to US credibility on the world stage if the Chinese own space? They will increasingly be seen as the big kid on the block to whom the world defers, and we will become like France: A nice place to visit, but a nation that no one respects on a basic level.
Do you think they will, with no property rights?
Oh it's an obstacle alright, just not the obstacle. Of course, the minute the Chinese land on the moon, that treaty will be worth less than used toilet paper. They will claim what they want to claim until someone knocks them off the hill, and that will not happen soon.
Railroads might have been one of the worst things to bring up, unless you meant to make my point - government can't be trusted to make good use of the resources, or even properly direct them.
The waste in railroads probably can't touch in dollar figures the amount wasted in space. But just as the nation needed railroads in spite of the corruption and waste subsidizing them produced, we are going to need space infrastructure.
Unless deferring to the Chinese is ok with you.
You're saying a lot, but none it applies to my question. Do you want the U.S. to build moon forts or orbital forts, or what? We can go into space. We can design military rockets to attack targets in space. Why would China 'own' space just because they can finally get into it?
They will claim what they want to claim until someone knocks them off the hill, and that will not happen soon.
Are you claiming we should claim it until someone knocks us off? Just come out and say it if you are, no harm done.
The waste in railroads probably can't touch in dollar figures the amount wasted in space. But just as the nation needed railroads in spite of the corruption and waste subsidizing them produced, we are going to need space infrastructure.
And, as with the Great Northern Railway, private enterprise can provide them when there is a market demand for them, without politicians reaching into our pockets to enrich themselves and their cronies.
Unless deferring to the Chinese is ok with you.
Deferring to them about what? Do they ask us for permission to go into space? To go to the moon?