A Screed or Reasonable Thought?

Folks, here is a screed I knocked out talking to one of my conservative friends. If you have nothing better to do , wade through this wordy thing.

Once the frontier is gone, a stratification seems to take place. Those who were "firstest" with the "mostest" stake out a claim that is hard to break. Their progeny, no matter how mediocre, are put into positions of power that will continue unto the forth generation and beyond. You, I am sure, could cite many examples of this. It is true that inovation brings new blood to the ruling class, but slowly. The Dot Com boys did not join this elite. Once in a while a truly bright star from the lower classes will arise, but he or she will be immediately co-opted. The very top universties get some of the brighter middle class kids and the same thing happens. These people will not sit on the boards but will fill support positions necessary to the senior management and will be well paid. This tactic prevents any real challange to the power of the ruling class as the lower class remains leaderless. That the real power in this country is in the hands of a small number of people (not always the brighest bulbs) whose names we do not even know cannot be in doubt. Now, do not misunderstand, I do not contend this state of affairs to be any sort of dark conspiracy. It is such a natural phenomenon that in times past it was deemed Divine Right. This power will become even more concentrated with time as merger mania continues the consolidation of media, financial and industrial institutions. The countervailing force of the old Dem. party has been lost; a great loss to all classes I might add.

Our political parties have merged to the point where only the fringe nuts show marked differences. Remember the last debates? It seemed there was more agreement than difference. Look closely at these clowns we put in the highest offices, do you truly believe these are serious guardians of the public welfare, or are they hired hands to do the masters bidding? These people are mere figureheads, rather than true leaders, chosen for electability rather than substance. The huge amounts of money required to mount a run for national office will keep the parties for ever in thrall to the International Corporations, thereby promoting an agenda not always (to say the least) in the best interest of the many. Examples of this could be: unlimited immigration from Mexico, the "free trade acts", uncontrolled capital movement, NMD or supporting repressive governments. (how do you like these choices?):-) The idea that freedom and unlimited unrestricted capitalism are one and the same is an attractive thought for such as we who are finanicaly secure, but carried to the limit you might want to become the absentee landlord.

I have no idea where this is going to end, but the vision of gated compounds where the walls are topped with broken glass and razor wire, patrolled by moonlighting SWAT team members, while the SUV becomes the armored version preferred by third world rulers does not appeal to me. Linear extrapolation is almost always useless, so I'm at a loss. This separation of our people into this ever widening gap in income, hence in interests, bodes ill for the future. Nowhere do I see a potential leader who could address this growing problem. A serious failure in the economy will accelerate this fall into the pit. Fertile ground for the likes of Dr. Pirece on the right or Hop's leftoid scum across the aisle.

I know this is a dismal view, perhaps due to old age or that I'm a Techie type rather than Lib. Arts. Tell me I am dead wrong. That will and cheer me up.

In response to NY Times' columnist Maureen Dowd latest histrionics, a Times forum contributor wrote this very thoughtful and provocative response. I suspect that he is centered politically, which we can be grateful for, and is one of those increasingly rare individuals who have friends on both sides of the political spectrum.

Completely and totally agree. However, in the current climate, I doubt anyone in this country would be willing to pony up the bucks to do so. Unlike the halicon days of the 60s when the space program was the equivalent of war against the Soviet Union, Americans no longer view NASA for the wonder that it is.

As a resident of Daytona Beach, I have the awesome privlege of stepping outside my home, turning to the southeast and witnessing the shuttle as it climbs to altitude. I am brought to tears each time I see it because it represents the best and brightest that America has to offer. NASA does this on a shoe string budget and I can't help but think what would happen if we devoted more resources to this national treasure.

However, in the current climate, I doubt anyone in this country would be willing to pony up the bucks to do so.

That's why people in the US are going to Russia and MirCorp to fund their commercial space enterprises. Also, Japan and China (and maybe India) will most certainly expand into and populate space. They have the will and desire to do so.

We in the US are so obsessed with navel inspection and self recrimination/ destruction that our society is rapidly losing the will and ability to go where no man has gone before. If we are to take freedom to space we need to be creative in using the all the resources we can find.

However take heart in such dreamers as Dan Goldin, director of NASA, who has laid out a vision of putting men on Mars by the end of the decade. You can read about his mission here.

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