| Chapter Twenty-One of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
By the time these other European powers caught up and developed their navies, Great Britain was well on the way toward domination of the
oceans. The result was that 300 years later, by the 1800’s the sun never set on the British and Spanish Empires. 2
oceans. The result was that 300 years later, by the 1800’s the sun never set on the British and Spanish Empires. 2
When France, Germany, Turkey, Russia and Italy failed to fully develop their navies early on at the time Spain, Portugal and England were
busy with exploration, these societies missed out on important opportunities. Spain had the first global empire resulting from the important
explorations of Columbus and Magellan.
busy with exploration, these societies missed out on important opportunities. Spain had the first global empire resulting from the important
explorations of Columbus and Magellan.
Empires fade into history. Spain and Britain are no longer "world powers" but merely wonderful nations with very rich histories. It if very difficult
to manage distant lands with people who yearn for liberty and freedom. The American Revolution eventually led to the dissolution of all
European empires as the ideas of liberty and freedom spread through out the planet. After World War II, European colonialism ended and
American imperialism began. We stepped in to fill the void created by the fall of the British Empire. As Rome was we are now, Pax Americana.
Our military bases, dictatorships and support of "friendly" regimes circles the planet.
to manage distant lands with people who yearn for liberty and freedom. The American Revolution eventually led to the dissolution of all
European empires as the ideas of liberty and freedom spread through out the planet. After World War II, European colonialism ended and
American imperialism began. We stepped in to fill the void created by the fall of the British Empire. As Rome was we are now, Pax Americana.
Our military bases, dictatorships and support of "friendly" regimes circles the planet.
Military power alone will not allow us to hold on to our Empire. What will be required is an expanding economic base that incorporates a
majority of the planet's people. My Roman ancestors held on to their vast empire because they brought the benefits of Pax Romana to the
areas they conquered. Roman roads, law, commerce, art, science a common language and above all peace, was the glue that held the old
world together for centuries. When the illiterate, dirty, hairy, smelly disgusting barbarian trash invaded the empire, Rome did not do what was
necessary to preserve the peace. Had Rome continued to expand it's superior technological base, it's economy and had leaders like Trajan
or Hadrian or Julius Caesar, the scum of their day would have been defeated and the world would not have suffered from the end of law. The
Dark Ages brought on from the fall of Rome meant the end of law, commerce and peace for over ONE THOUSAND YEARS!
majority of the planet's people. My Roman ancestors held on to their vast empire because they brought the benefits of Pax Romana to the
areas they conquered. Roman roads, law, commerce, art, science a common language and above all peace, was the glue that held the old
world together for centuries. When the illiterate, dirty, hairy, smelly disgusting barbarian trash invaded the empire, Rome did not do what was
necessary to preserve the peace. Had Rome continued to expand it's superior technological base, it's economy and had leaders like Trajan
or Hadrian or Julius Caesar, the scum of their day would have been defeated and the world would not have suffered from the end of law. The
Dark Ages brought on from the fall of Rome meant the end of law, commerce and peace for over ONE THOUSAND YEARS!
 | |  | |  |
| Pax Americana and the Benefits of Space Exploration "The cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we chose. It is a desire written in the human heart." President George W. Bush |
The problem with American politicians is they have no sense of history. The fall of Rome was the most important political event in Western
human history. Fortunately Islam preserved the knowledge of the ancient world and expanded on this immense body of learning. The benefits
of furthering this body of knowledge is the age of exploration and now, our modern world. Regardless of how much Al Qaeda may hate
everything about the modern world, the West is the bastard child of Islam. What exploration brings about is great benefits to mankind. With
exploration come the development of new technologies. Columbus' tiny little ships are todays huge, sprawling cruise liners.
Where Magellen's men took five years to travel around the world, we can do it in 24 hours
human history. Fortunately Islam preserved the knowledge of the ancient world and expanded on this immense body of learning. The benefits
of furthering this body of knowledge is the age of exploration and now, our modern world. Regardless of how much Al Qaeda may hate
everything about the modern world, the West is the bastard child of Islam. What exploration brings about is great benefits to mankind. With
exploration come the development of new technologies. Columbus' tiny little ships are todays huge, sprawling cruise liners.
Where Magellen's men took five years to travel around the world, we can do it in 24 hours
Magellan never made it back to Spain, he was killed the Philippines. Three years after his five ships and 270 men left Seville, 18 men in a
small craft returned. 3. Today's trips to Asia and Europe take approximately 15 hours on a 747 flying at 780 m.p.h. at 38,000 feet. (of course
Al Qaeda blows up airliners since the stupid bastards are incapable of designing something that complex and Allah forbid, a woman might
actually touch them while serving them a fine glass of French wine, but that is another story).
small craft returned. 3. Today's trips to Asia and Europe take approximately 15 hours on a 747 flying at 780 m.p.h. at 38,000 feet. (of course
Al Qaeda blows up airliners since the stupid bastards are incapable of designing something that complex and Allah forbid, a woman might
actually touch them while serving them a fine glass of French wine, but that is another story).
Without the brave explorers from Columbus to Captain Cook, we would still be stuck in Europe, poor, overcrowded and hating life. Exploration
made the modern world despite Al Qaeda's desire to completely destroy it. The benefits of explorations are all around us. The improvements
in technology have not just had their effects on transportation systems. Our clothing, our foods, our medicines, everything in the modern
world from television to Argentine wine comes from international trade which resulted from explorers going forward, bravely into the unknown.
In a very short 500 years, we have explored every land area on the planet. We even landed men on the moon. Then we stopped, like China
after Admiral Ho. We questioned the costs of exploration and the return on investment. I think our expectations of an immediate return were
unrealistic. It was not like we were going to conquer Aztec and Inca empires with cool waterfalls, thinly clan native girls, great food and GOLD.
made the modern world despite Al Qaeda's desire to completely destroy it. The benefits of explorations are all around us. The improvements
in technology have not just had their effects on transportation systems. Our clothing, our foods, our medicines, everything in the modern
world from television to Argentine wine comes from international trade which resulted from explorers going forward, bravely into the unknown.
In a very short 500 years, we have explored every land area on the planet. We even landed men on the moon. Then we stopped, like China
after Admiral Ho. We questioned the costs of exploration and the return on investment. I think our expectations of an immediate return were
unrealistic. It was not like we were going to conquer Aztec and Inca empires with cool waterfalls, thinly clan native girls, great food and GOLD.
The United States has developed a space program that surpassed the initial successes of the former
Soviet Union. But now there is indecision and questions about our country’s will to go forward into the
frontiers of outer space. The failure of a second space shuttle has given politicians and critics of NASA the
opportunity to question public spending on space exploration. Clearly, space exploration is very
expensive. But so is the joint strike fighter program
Even before the second shuttle disaster, there were critics of government funded space exploration. The
CATO Institute, who always questions excessive government power and spending, was very critical of
NASA’s space shuttle. In a scathing piece of logic that exposes the fact that the emperor is naked and the
space shuttle is an expensive sacred cow, Dr. Edward L. Hudgins, Director of Regulatory Studies at the
Cato Institute in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics March 19, 1997 observed:
Soviet Union. But now there is indecision and questions about our country’s will to go forward into the
frontiers of outer space. The failure of a second space shuttle has given politicians and critics of NASA the
opportunity to question public spending on space exploration. Clearly, space exploration is very
expensive. But so is the joint strike fighter program
Even before the second shuttle disaster, there were critics of government funded space exploration. The
CATO Institute, who always questions excessive government power and spending, was very critical of
NASA’s space shuttle. In a scathing piece of logic that exposes the fact that the emperor is naked and the
space shuttle is an expensive sacred cow, Dr. Edward L. Hudgins, Director of Regulatory Studies at the
Cato Institute in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics March 19, 1997 observed:
The lunar landings forever will be celebrated among mankind's great human and technological achievements.
of dollars.
In the early 1970s, as NASA saw Moon landings curtailed and Moon bases ruled out, it sought to preserve its
big budgets and staffs with another big project: the Space Shuttle. Sold to policy makers as a reusable and
thus cheaper way to put payloads in orbit than expendable launch vehicles, in effect, NASA's mission went
from science and exploration to freight hauling. But rather than proving a way to make space flight as common
and inexpensive as air flight, the costs of putting payloads into space with the Shuttle have skyrocketed. It is
difficult to get good numbers from impenetrable NASA accounting. David Gump in his book Space Enterprise
estimates the cost in constant dollars went from $3,800 per pound under Apollo to $6,000 with the Shuttle.
Alex Roland of Duke University estimates that the cost of a Shuttle flight, including development and capital
costs, is not the $350 million claimed by NASA but closer to $2 billion, which works out to about $35,000 per
pound.
As it became apparent in the early 1980s that the Shuttle was a costly white elephant, NASA needed a mission
to justify the Shuttle's continued existence. Aside from any purported commercial or scientific benefits, an
orbiting space station seemed to serve this purpose. But the cost of the station went from a promised $8 billion
to nearly $40 billion before the current stripped down $30 billion model was redesigned in 1993. (This number
certainly underestimates real station development, construction and maintenance costs.)
All along NASA public relations efforts continued to charm the taxpayer with the wonders of space. School
children were and are encouraged to think up experiments that can go on the station. And the first teacher
was to go into space on the ill-fated Challenger flight. I do not deny the excitement of space exploration. I
bemoan the sad spectacle of space enthusiasts defending programs that make space activities more costly
and less feasible against critics who denigrate the importance of space science and exploration.
These programs needless to say enjoyed the strong support from the contractors that benefited from them.
Indeed, the Station's survival has been a testimony to the practice of giving out corporate pork and the
influence the recipients have exercised over policy makers. NASA in recent years has seen environmental
projects as potential cash cows. Mission to Planet Earth is the epitome of such an enterprise. NASA in the late
1980s had to fight turf battles with other agencies for jurisdiction over satellites to monitor the environment.
After all, if the Environmental Protection Agency needs data to fulfill its mission, that should be none of NASA's
business. NASA in effect muscled in on the territory of EPA and other government agencies. The mindset at
NASA still seems to be that any activities that take place in space should be under its jurisdiction and
supervision. 4
of dollars.
In the early 1970s, as NASA saw Moon landings curtailed and Moon bases ruled out, it sought to preserve its
big budgets and staffs with another big project: the Space Shuttle. Sold to policy makers as a reusable and
thus cheaper way to put payloads in orbit than expendable launch vehicles, in effect, NASA's mission went
from science and exploration to freight hauling. But rather than proving a way to make space flight as common
and inexpensive as air flight, the costs of putting payloads into space with the Shuttle have skyrocketed. It is
difficult to get good numbers from impenetrable NASA accounting. David Gump in his book Space Enterprise
estimates the cost in constant dollars went from $3,800 per pound under Apollo to $6,000 with the Shuttle.
Alex Roland of Duke University estimates that the cost of a Shuttle flight, including development and capital
costs, is not the $350 million claimed by NASA but closer to $2 billion, which works out to about $35,000 per
pound.
As it became apparent in the early 1980s that the Shuttle was a costly white elephant, NASA needed a mission
to justify the Shuttle's continued existence. Aside from any purported commercial or scientific benefits, an
orbiting space station seemed to serve this purpose. But the cost of the station went from a promised $8 billion
to nearly $40 billion before the current stripped down $30 billion model was redesigned in 1993. (This number
certainly underestimates real station development, construction and maintenance costs.)
All along NASA public relations efforts continued to charm the taxpayer with the wonders of space. School
children were and are encouraged to think up experiments that can go on the station. And the first teacher
was to go into space on the ill-fated Challenger flight. I do not deny the excitement of space exploration. I
bemoan the sad spectacle of space enthusiasts defending programs that make space activities more costly
and less feasible against critics who denigrate the importance of space science and exploration.
These programs needless to say enjoyed the strong support from the contractors that benefited from them.
Indeed, the Station's survival has been a testimony to the practice of giving out corporate pork and the
influence the recipients have exercised over policy makers. NASA in recent years has seen environmental
projects as potential cash cows. Mission to Planet Earth is the epitome of such an enterprise. NASA in the late
1980s had to fight turf battles with other agencies for jurisdiction over satellites to monitor the environment.
After all, if the Environmental Protection Agency needs data to fulfill its mission, that should be none of NASA's
business. NASA in effect muscled in on the territory of EPA and other government agencies. The mindset at
NASA still seems to be that any activities that take place in space should be under its jurisdiction and
supervision. 4
Like most government activities, space exploration under NASA has become a bureaucracy. But there have been many benefits that have
come from space exploration. The technological spin offs have been numerous and in various areas. We have much better medicine and
medical devices as a direct result of the research necessary to make the short journey to space successful. Today we measure blood
pressure instantly as a result of the Mercury scientists necessity in protecting Alan Shepard during blast off. 5
come from space exploration. The technological spin offs have been numerous and in various areas. We have much better medicine and
medical devices as a direct result of the research necessary to make the short journey to space successful. Today we measure blood
pressure instantly as a result of the Mercury scientists necessity in protecting Alan Shepard during blast off. 5
We have scratch resistant lens for eye glasses as a result of NASA’s need for protection of satellites from space debris. 6 Braces for teeth fit
easier as a result of nitinol, an alloy used for satellites to deploy with more ease. 7 Electronic pain-control devices implanted in patients were
born from the telemetry the space program. 8 The patient can control the pain as a result of the miniature electronic components developed
from the space program. 9 Heart pacemakers developed in part from the electronic monitoring used to operate satellites in earth orbit. 10 The
implantable insulin pump borrowed technology from the robot arm on the first Mars Voyager probe. 11
The view from space has resulted in tremendous new knowledge about the Earth below. We have topography maps that have made
navigation easier and safer and we have developed new sciences. As NASA points out on their website:
easier as a result of nitinol, an alloy used for satellites to deploy with more ease. 7 Electronic pain-control devices implanted in patients were
born from the telemetry the space program. 8 The patient can control the pain as a result of the miniature electronic components developed
from the space program. 9 Heart pacemakers developed in part from the electronic monitoring used to operate satellites in earth orbit. 10 The
implantable insulin pump borrowed technology from the robot arm on the first Mars Voyager probe. 11
The view from space has resulted in tremendous new knowledge about the Earth below. We have topography maps that have made
navigation easier and safer and we have developed new sciences. As NASA points out on their website:
huge mountain ranges, carved deep into the Earth to form valleys and stretching flat across thousands of
them. However, titanic geological events along these boundaries offer clues to their locations. Where plates
converge, mountains and volcanoes are often found. Where they pull apart, oceans are born. Wherever they
grind against each other, they are jostled by frequent earthquakes.
Digital topographic data of mountain ranges, which will be available for the first time with the retrieval of Shuttle
Radar Topography Mission data, will allow geologists to test new models of how mountains form and determine
the relative strength of the forces that uplift and crumple mountains and the erosive forces which polish and
reshape them.
Lower resolution digital topographic data, available only in the last few years, have yielded some surprising
results. It seems that landslides in mountainous areas are responsible for far more of the erosion than
previously thought, causing revision of many basic ideas of mountain development. Even more surprising,
models based on new digital data have shown that erosion of deep valleys into mountain ranges
actually causes the adjacent peaks to rise in elevation due to the buoyant force of the underlying mantle. 12
them. However, titanic geological events along these boundaries offer clues to their locations. Where plates
converge, mountains and volcanoes are often found. Where they pull apart, oceans are born. Wherever they
grind against each other, they are jostled by frequent earthquakes.
Digital topographic data of mountain ranges, which will be available for the first time with the retrieval of Shuttle
Radar Topography Mission data, will allow geologists to test new models of how mountains form and determine
the relative strength of the forces that uplift and crumple mountains and the erosive forces which polish and
reshape them.
Lower resolution digital topographic data, available only in the last few years, have yielded some surprising
results. It seems that landslides in mountainous areas are responsible for far more of the erosion than
previously thought, causing revision of many basic ideas of mountain development. Even more surprising,
models based on new digital data have shown that erosion of deep valleys into mountain ranges
actually causes the adjacent peaks to rise in elevation due to the buoyant force of the underlying mantle. 12
From studies on the greenhouse gases that effect global climate change to assisting archaeologists with burial sites and scientific
observations and mapping of the rain forests, space exploration has been tremendously useful in expanding the boundaries of human
knowledge. 13 Obviously weather and communications satellites have made our lives more comfortable and the world a smaller place. But
some scholars argue that exploration is a natural event that is an intricate part of human existence. The phenomena of exploration is best
explained in the social sciences, and not in the business and medical benefits that naturally flow from discovery.
observations and mapping of the rain forests, space exploration has been tremendously useful in expanding the boundaries of human
knowledge. 13 Obviously weather and communications satellites have made our lives more comfortable and the world a smaller place. But
some scholars argue that exploration is a natural event that is an intricate part of human existence. The phenomena of exploration is best
explained in the social sciences, and not in the business and medical benefits that naturally flow from discovery.
As Tom Harris observes in an excellent article, The Social Benefits of Space Exploration. "Astronauts like Julie Payette do not risk their lives
to contribute to the GNP or create jobs in the aerospace sector. We, and our explorer proxies, are driven by factors best understood by social
scientists.”14
Some scholars have argued that the failure to continue with human exploration would lead to the demise of human civilization. Clearly our
world view is different from that of people who lived in the 1800’s. We can actually picture the Earth and most of us see the planet as a small
globe in a sea of darkness we have become so familiar with the images from the various shuttle missions to outer space. As Harris goes on to
state in his insightful article:
to contribute to the GNP or create jobs in the aerospace sector. We, and our explorer proxies, are driven by factors best understood by social
scientists.”14
Some scholars have argued that the failure to continue with human exploration would lead to the demise of human civilization. Clearly our
world view is different from that of people who lived in the 1800’s. We can actually picture the Earth and most of us see the planet as a small
globe in a sea of darkness we have become so familiar with the images from the various shuttle missions to outer space. As Harris goes on to
state in his insightful article:
Human beings act out processes long before they understand them", says Carleton University anthropologist,
rationalization." Laughlin explains that the standard justifications for space flight are an example of such
rationalizing. He believes that we would be expanding off-world even if these benefits did not exist. The real
reasons for space flight, he says, have more to do with human nature and the way in which humanity will
continue to change as we move into this new frontier. At first glance, social science might not seem to have
has always been reluctant to associate with those in the "soft" sciences.
However, things are changing. Led by the innovative thinking of several forward-looking social scientists and a
minority of space professionals, a healing between these fields is occurring which has the potential to radically
alter our view of the program.
Anthropologists are leading the way. They explain how their discipline, embracing both the biological and
cultural evolution of humankind, provides an important perspective, helping us understand the human
implications of leaving our home planet. Ben Finney, a University of Hawaii anthropologist, maintains that "the
space revolution is leading humanity into an entirely new and uncharted social realm." He says that the act of
settling space "will change humankind utterly and irreversibly."
These changes will eventually become so pronounced that Cabrillo College anthropologist James Funaro
says, "the first aliens we encounter in space will be ourselves." Laughlin and space psychologist Philip Harris
explain that space travel has already changed the way we view humanity and our world. It is no coincidence
that, within two years of our first views of Earth rise over the Moon, we saw the formation of Environment
Canada, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Greenpeace and the world's first Earth Day.
Finney shows how this sort of transformation is analogous to that experienced by successive generations of
Polynesians as a result of exploring and settling islands across the Pacific Ocean. He labels humans "the
exploring animal" and concludes that a withdrawal from the exploration and development of space would put
the brakes on our civilization's cultural and intellectual advancement.
Space-generated changes to humanity were predicted at the dawn of the space age when philosopher
Hannah Arendt warned in her 1958 book, The Human Condition, "The most radical change in the human
condition we can imagine would be the emigration of men from Earth to some other planet."
Arendt feared this expansion. Today's anthropologists welcome it as a necessary catalyst, accelerating the
modifications to our society and our consciousness we need to survive. Historian Stephen Pyne of Arizona
State University West shows how the history of western civilization since the Renaissance demonstrates a
strong correlation between geographic exploration and general cultural vitality. He sees important similarities
between what space exploration offers our civilization and what the exploration of the world contributed to
Europe after the Middle Ages.
"It has a cultural context", says Pyne. "Exploration is not simply driven by technology." Pyne asserts, "Choosing
to explore the solar system will not, by itself, assure us continued status as a world civilization. But choosing
not to explore will ensure that we will not retain that stature." Political science professor Michael Fulda of the
Virginia-based Institute for the Social Science Study of Space summarizes the space/social science connection
well when he says simply, "Space exploration is a social activity".
Ultimately, we may find that forces above culture or biology are driving us into space. Laughlin says that
relations were established in the Big Bang that made the evolution of intelligent life inevitable. From this point
of view we may simply be the universe's way of coming to know itself -- cosmic exploration may be humankind's
central purpose. 15
rationalization." Laughlin explains that the standard justifications for space flight are an example of such
rationalizing. He believes that we would be expanding off-world even if these benefits did not exist. The real
reasons for space flight, he says, have more to do with human nature and the way in which humanity will
continue to change as we move into this new frontier. At first glance, social science might not seem to have
has always been reluctant to associate with those in the "soft" sciences.
However, things are changing. Led by the innovative thinking of several forward-looking social scientists and a
minority of space professionals, a healing between these fields is occurring which has the potential to radically
alter our view of the program.
Anthropologists are leading the way. They explain how their discipline, embracing both the biological and
cultural evolution of humankind, provides an important perspective, helping us understand the human
implications of leaving our home planet. Ben Finney, a University of Hawaii anthropologist, maintains that "the
space revolution is leading humanity into an entirely new and uncharted social realm." He says that the act of
settling space "will change humankind utterly and irreversibly."
These changes will eventually become so pronounced that Cabrillo College anthropologist James Funaro
says, "the first aliens we encounter in space will be ourselves." Laughlin and space psychologist Philip Harris
explain that space travel has already changed the way we view humanity and our world. It is no coincidence
that, within two years of our first views of Earth rise over the Moon, we saw the formation of Environment
Canada, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Greenpeace and the world's first Earth Day.
Finney shows how this sort of transformation is analogous to that experienced by successive generations of
Polynesians as a result of exploring and settling islands across the Pacific Ocean. He labels humans "the
exploring animal" and concludes that a withdrawal from the exploration and development of space would put
the brakes on our civilization's cultural and intellectual advancement.
Space-generated changes to humanity were predicted at the dawn of the space age when philosopher
Hannah Arendt warned in her 1958 book, The Human Condition, "The most radical change in the human
condition we can imagine would be the emigration of men from Earth to some other planet."
Arendt feared this expansion. Today's anthropologists welcome it as a necessary catalyst, accelerating the
modifications to our society and our consciousness we need to survive. Historian Stephen Pyne of Arizona
State University West shows how the history of western civilization since the Renaissance demonstrates a
strong correlation between geographic exploration and general cultural vitality. He sees important similarities
between what space exploration offers our civilization and what the exploration of the world contributed to
Europe after the Middle Ages.
"It has a cultural context", says Pyne. "Exploration is not simply driven by technology." Pyne asserts, "Choosing
to explore the solar system will not, by itself, assure us continued status as a world civilization. But choosing
not to explore will ensure that we will not retain that stature." Political science professor Michael Fulda of the
Virginia-based Institute for the Social Science Study of Space summarizes the space/social science connection
well when he says simply, "Space exploration is a social activity".
Ultimately, we may find that forces above culture or biology are driving us into space. Laughlin says that
relations were established in the Big Bang that made the evolution of intelligent life inevitable. From this point
of view we may simply be the universe's way of coming to know itself -- cosmic exploration may be humankind's
central purpose. 15
Humans are the frustrated aggressive animal. We have perfected the art of war and practice of killing living beings. Left on this planet to our
own devices there is little question in my mind we will completely destroy the Earth and all of God’s creation. What re-directing the immense
human energy away from the planet toward outer space will accomplish is we will be less inclined to commit total and complete genocide of all
living things. We use war as an instrument of policy to carry out politics regardless of the wishes of the mass of humanity or the remainder of
creation with whom we cannot yet communicate.
own devices there is little question in my mind we will completely destroy the Earth and all of God’s creation. What re-directing the immense
human energy away from the planet toward outer space will accomplish is we will be less inclined to commit total and complete genocide of all
living things. We use war as an instrument of policy to carry out politics regardless of the wishes of the mass of humanity or the remainder of
creation with whom we cannot yet communicate.
Space exploration is much more expensive then anything we have ever tried to accomplish in all of our previous ventures into the unknown.
While there are not space monsters that will swallow up our space ships, there will be very real dangers of which we are well aware. When
Europeans ventured forth to colonize following the explorers who had gone before them, the difficult part had already taken place.
Colonization followed exploration.
We are frightened away from building a moon base and landing on Mars, not because we can’t, but because it is exceptionally difficult and we
know it. We have the technology to land men on the moon and build a moon base. But we know there are not rivers leading to exotic tropical
paradise with water falls and pools full of fish surrounded by lush green plants. The moon is a barren rock, completely devoid of all life and of
questionably mineral value. So it is difficult to justify spending the billions of dollars required to develop a moon base when the money could
be better spent on Earth.
But the reality is the money is not better spent on Earth. We waste hundreds of billions of dollars on weapons systems of questionable utility
and on social services that support the breeding habits of our ever-expanding lower class. Between entitlement programs and defense
spending and interest on the national debt, very little control exists over the federal budget.
While there are not space monsters that will swallow up our space ships, there will be very real dangers of which we are well aware. When
Europeans ventured forth to colonize following the explorers who had gone before them, the difficult part had already taken place.
Colonization followed exploration.
We are frightened away from building a moon base and landing on Mars, not because we can’t, but because it is exceptionally difficult and we
know it. We have the technology to land men on the moon and build a moon base. But we know there are not rivers leading to exotic tropical
paradise with water falls and pools full of fish surrounded by lush green plants. The moon is a barren rock, completely devoid of all life and of
questionably mineral value. So it is difficult to justify spending the billions of dollars required to develop a moon base when the money could
be better spent on Earth.
But the reality is the money is not better spent on Earth. We waste hundreds of billions of dollars on weapons systems of questionable utility
and on social services that support the breeding habits of our ever-expanding lower class. Between entitlement programs and defense
spending and interest on the national debt, very little control exists over the federal budget.
Building a moon base will refine many of the medical, computer and propulsion technologies and make our journeys to the inner solar system
easier. And just having such powerful militarizes makes their use tempting to carry out goals of politics through war. If America did not have
the ability to invade another country with over 200,000 men and the ability to deploy five aircraft carrier battle groups against a nation, we
would not do it.
By slowly, very slowly shifting defense spending to space exploration, we can keep people employed nationally and get the benefits that will
come about from the push forward with discovery. Our present defense budget cannot be cut because the politics are not there to reduce this
expenditure. Despite the fact that Al Queda is a very tiny group of religious fanatics that got in a lucky sucker punch, the Bush administration
used September 11th to accomplish what they would have pursued anyway, a massive increase in defense spending.
Freezing the defense budget at it’s current level and giving the mission of ocean and space exploration to the Department of Defense will
enable the aerospace contractors and navy contractors to continue to feed from the public treasury. These programs of building a
sustainable space station, a moon base and a manned mission to Mars are horrendously expensive. But can you imagine how much it will
cost humanity if we have a global war between Islam and the West as is the goal of Bin Laden? Then exploring the oceans and Mars looks
rather cheap.
easier. And just having such powerful militarizes makes their use tempting to carry out goals of politics through war. If America did not have
the ability to invade another country with over 200,000 men and the ability to deploy five aircraft carrier battle groups against a nation, we
would not do it.
By slowly, very slowly shifting defense spending to space exploration, we can keep people employed nationally and get the benefits that will
come about from the push forward with discovery. Our present defense budget cannot be cut because the politics are not there to reduce this
expenditure. Despite the fact that Al Queda is a very tiny group of religious fanatics that got in a lucky sucker punch, the Bush administration
used September 11th to accomplish what they would have pursued anyway, a massive increase in defense spending.
Freezing the defense budget at it’s current level and giving the mission of ocean and space exploration to the Department of Defense will
enable the aerospace contractors and navy contractors to continue to feed from the public treasury. These programs of building a
sustainable space station, a moon base and a manned mission to Mars are horrendously expensive. But can you imagine how much it will
cost humanity if we have a global war between Islam and the West as is the goal of Bin Laden? Then exploring the oceans and Mars looks
rather cheap.
$35. cite supra, infra.
2. Obviously Spain acheived in 100 years what Rome could not in 700. After Magellan, Spain had colonies from Asia to Africa to America.
British imperialism has been fully explored elsewhere. One of the better sites online is at: "The British Empire":
www.britishempire.co.uk/intro/intro.htm
2. Ibid.
3. See 1, supra and "Circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan" online at:www.thenagain.info/WebChron/WestEurope/Magellan.html
4. NASA and Mission to Planet Earth by Dr. Edward L. Hudgins Director of Regulatory Studies Cato Institute in his testimony before the
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics March 19, 1997 online at:
www.cato.org/testimony/ct-eh031997.html
5. From pacemakers to braces, the medical benefits of space exploration by Dan Rutz, November 2, 1998.
www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9811/02/space.medical/
6. to 11 Ibid.
10. STS-99 BENEFITS Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Science and Technology Applications online at:
www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/benefits/srtm_benefits.html
13. Ibid
14. The Social Benefits of Space Exploration by Tom Harris on line at:www.planetary.org/html/news/harris.html
15. Ibid.
2. Obviously Spain acheived in 100 years what Rome could not in 700. After Magellan, Spain had colonies from Asia to Africa to America.
British imperialism has been fully explored elsewhere. One of the better sites online is at: "The British Empire":
www.britishempire.co.uk/intro/intro.htm
2. Ibid.
3. See 1, supra and "Circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan" online at:www.thenagain.info/WebChron/WestEurope/Magellan.html
4. NASA and Mission to Planet Earth by Dr. Edward L. Hudgins Director of Regulatory Studies Cato Institute in his testimony before the
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics March 19, 1997 online at:
www.cato.org/testimony/ct-eh031997.html
5. From pacemakers to braces, the medical benefits of space exploration by Dan Rutz, November 2, 1998.
www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9811/02/space.medical/
6. to 11 Ibid.
10. STS-99 BENEFITS Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Science and Technology Applications online at:
www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/benefits/srtm_benefits.html
13. Ibid
14. The Social Benefits of Space Exploration by Tom Harris on line at:www.planetary.org/html/news/harris.html
15. Ibid.