Dear Friends,
It seems to me that the successful docking of the Dragon capsule with the International Space Station, is as historic an event as the orbiting of John Glenn, or Columbus discovering America. Now that the market system is applying it’s ability to utilize resources, to space, humanity will see some marvelous advancements. Capitalism will expand Mankind’s ability in space farther and faster than anyone predicts. Unless government gets in the way.
Obama has total antipathy for the market system, so it seems an interesting point that he would turn over space, to private industry. Given his ideology he should believe that the private sector will flounder. Every speech Obama makes, shows that he doesn’t think anyone can do anything, without the heavy hand of government. His main thesis is that even the individual cannot cope without government support. So it seems counter intuitive that he would open space to the vexing private sector.
Obama ordered NASA to change it’s policy from space exploration to making Muslims feel good about themselves. This doesn’t seem to be compatible with NASA’s original goal of space exploration. This along with his turning over of space to the market system, would indicate he has antipathy for space exploration as well. If he believes the private sector is inept, as his writings and speeches indicate, and his changing the goals of NASA from space exploration to a social program, then he seeks to eliminate America’s traditional leadership in space technology and innovation.
I believe this will backfire on him. No government is better able to exploit space better than the market system. With it’s built in efficiencies and ability to seize on opportunities, the capitalist system will expand Mankind’s horizon, farther and faster than any government backed jobs program, for entrenched Senators to bring home, ever could. Government by it’s very nature is unable to operate anything efficiently. The nature of government is political, and any time government sets it’s hand to anything, the outcome is colored by politics. The result of his opening space to capitalism will be a drastically expanded human presence in space.
The opportunities that rest in space are actually unimaginable. The resources are unquantifiable and unlimited. The potential for the expansion of mankind, in technology, resources, and even liberty, are enormous and are only available through the market system. As history shows, government run projects can, and usually do, run afoul of political meddling. The history of colonization of the Americas is a relevant example.
Originally the America’s were conquered and colonies set up to enrich the government… whatever government. The first colonies were constituted for the enrichment of those in political power. At the time it was kings and the aristocracy. The colonies that were established by governments were inefficient, and many people who came, starved to death. But, when people started coming for religious and economic freedom, the entire paradigm changed. With the establishment of these types of settlements the colonies became profitable.
The picture was far different in South America however. There, the colonies were entirely concerned with extracting gold and silver, for the government (Elite) of Spain and Portugal. The lot of the people there, was and is, that of oppression and poverty… except for the politically favored. The results speak for themselves. Where the private sector was allowed to flourish, the lot of the people flourished, where the government established and maintained it’s hegemony, the lot of the people suffered. Space will be no different.
Unless government recognizes this truth, if they do, the political class will seek to reestablish their suffocating control over space exploration. Until then, if we are fortunate and the industry leaders are smart, the human race has a great future ahead of us in space… And away from the wars of greedy jealousy, religious intolerance and outright hate, that has characterized our existence on Earth. Perhaps it will be in space where the next United States type Constitution will be written. More importantly, if it is, then maybe our posterity will understand and remember history… unlike the people of today. They will recognize this was the start. Because of Obama’s attempt to sabotage space exploration.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
