It is much easier to defend a moon base than attack it. And there is no guarantee we will know what they are up to. They could launch from the far side and we wouldn't know what was going on until the reentry vehicles hit the atmosphere.
Why would China 'own' space just because they can finally get into it?
That is quite possible. Sure, we could take it back, but you are leading a charge uphill. You might take the hill, but it is going to hurt. They would hold all the initiative in a land war back here. They could start it, hit us, and take out our major intelligence assets in space. It would be Pearl Harbor II, and probably more devastating.
Are you claiming we should claim it until someone knocks us off? Just come out and say it if you are, no harm done.
I wish, but that won't happen. Rather, our presence will prevent the Chinese from making an unfettered claim.
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.
You are deliberately choosing the worst possible outcome and ignoring scores of successful examples. GNR was not the end result of railroad subsidy, it was one of those unfortunate side effects, just as shuttle and station are unfortunate side effects of trying to develop space infrastructure. And the shuttle and station are largely the result of democratic sabotage of promising republican ideas. The shuttle could have been a giant leap forward in launcher technology if congress hadn't done the soviets a favor by sabotaging it. The space station could be much more useful if Clinton hadn't turned it into welfare for the Russians.
The democrats are constantly trying to sabotage national security and national defense. Just because they are occassionally successful and get a WTC bombing for their efforts is no reason to shut down the CIA and defense departments.
Deferring to them about what? Do they ask us for permission to go into space? To go to the moon?
Space will only be the tip of the iceburg. Look at the relationship between the US and France now. We will take France's place, and China will take our place.
The whole world will see China as a shining success to model their governments after and us as has-beens relegated to the dustbin of history.
Another imaginary hobgoblin for the politicos to take and spend our money chasing. I could sit around and dream up BS doomsday scenarios all day with you. That's not the basis for government to seize and direct billions of dollars of assets against imaginary threats.
GNR was not the end result of railroad subsidy, it was one of those unfortunate side effects, just as shuttle and station are unfortunate side effects of trying to develop space infrastructure.
What are you talking about? The GNR was built without any use of imminent domain, without any political subsidies, and was profitable without any political bailouts. It stands as stark evidence that the brute force of government seizing property and tax dollars isn't required for development of infrastructure.
And the shuttle and station are largely the result of democratic sabotage of promising republican ideas.
It's a boondoggle because it's a boondoggle, not because of the democrats. You need to spit up the hook, line and sinker if you think every instance of government waste is because of the democrats.
Just because they are occassionally successful and get a WTC bombing for their efforts is no reason to shut down the CIA and defense departments.
Give the strawman another kick! Harder! Prop up another and repeat! This is great entertainment...
The whole world will see China as a shining success to model their governments after and us as has-beens relegated to the dustbin of history.
Your faith in communism is astounding. I'll grant you the U.S. will find the dustbin of history if the Republicans don't quit accelerating the growth of the welfare state, with nary a chinaman to blame.