The Need for a New Frontier

[frankmars]

<div class="postbody">Earth is in financial crisis right now. It's another bust in the "boom and bust" cycle and it's hurting more of us every day. People are losing their homes, they can barely afford to drive around and bills are becoming ever harder to pay as the gap between wages and living costs widens. When I see this it makes me want to scream. <br /><br />This cycle of boom and bust will continue forever while we continue to rely only upon (and restrict ourselves to) the usual markets for our prosperity. What we need is new markets, new frontiers. To expand beyond earth onto new worlds and to develop new economies there and here. While people (rightly) complain that they have barely got enough money to get by, its at this crucial time in our economic history that we need to look further ahead and "do the hard things" if we are to break out of this cruel financial cycle. It won't be easy, or cheap, but the rewards will outweigh the costs in time. It might even take a few generations to happen, but the sooner we start, the sooner we will see those rewards. With $700 Billion being thrown at a financial system in chaos no one can tell me we can't afford to send humans to Mars any longer. The money is there, just not the will. <br /><br />SpaceX has taken a great (and costly) first step to lower the cost of space flight. Virgin Galactic will follow, as will Bigelow, Bezos and others. I find it interesting that in a time where private space flight is becoming a reality that space community chatter has died off so much and the excitement that should be there is missing. We need a new frontier, now more than ever, and men like Elon Musk are "making it so". It's time for some new optimism people! And its time we started supporting our space organizations, profit and non profit. The sooner this happens, the sooner we can get "to there from here".</div>

 

[webtaz99]

<p>New frontiers won't change the unequal distribution of wealth. </p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>...its time we started supporting our space organizations, profit and non profit. The sooner this happens, the sooner we can get "to there from here". <br /> Posted by frankmars</DIV></p><p>I can't afford a ticket on SS2, but I bought an <font color="#000099"><strong>Armadillo Aerospace</strong></font> shirt.</p> <p>The <font color="#000099"><strong>Google Lunar X-Prize</strong></font> also has an online store where trinkets can be purchased.</p><p>Every little bit helps.&nbsp;<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>New frontiers won't change the unequal distribution of wealth. &nbsp; <br /> Posted by webtaz99</DIV></p><p>Who wants equal distribution of wealth? Contrary to myth, all men are not created equal. Some are more capable and more productive than others. They should be rewarded. Money is a great reward. Equal redistribution of wealth would just put everyone at the same level of poverty.</p><p>New frontiers keep capitalism alive. It needs the growth opportunities. Of course the risk takers can get wealthy if successful...while creating jobs for the not-so-wealthy. Everybody wins.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[kelvinzero]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Who wants equal distribution of wealth? Contrary to myth, all men are not created equal. Some are more capable and more productive than others. They should be rewarded. Money is a great reward. Equal redistribution of wealth would just put everyone at the same level of poverty.New frontiers keep capitalism alive. It needs the growth opportunities. Of course the risk takers can get wealthy if successful...while creating jobs for the not-so-wealthy. Everybody wins. <br />Posted by Swampcat</DIV></p><p>Im not for equal distribution of weath as such. I think Capitalism must be tempered with democracy of course.. I hope that of course can be taken as given!</p><p>One thing though is that capitalism must not need growth or it is a flawed system destined to crash repeatedly. I think it is reasonable to believe that companies need growth or else the will die, but companies dying is part of a healthy system in my mind, especially if it is not too traumatic for individuals who simply move to other companies.</p><p>I have two problems with capitalism though I dont feel they are inherent ones. The first I guess is consumerism and a media paid for by advertisers. Our media pours huge effort into programming us into seeking happiness by buying meaningless items. This is responsible for a huge waste of resources both physical and mental. It is a huge effort to make the world as shallow and meaningless as possible. (My solution to that wont fit in this thread)</p><p>The other with monopolies. They seem very tricky to deal with and every time there is a big monopoly that needs to be broken it seems very iffy whether the government will succeed. I think this could be solved by making the splitting of companies an almost automatic thing and part of the life cycle of a company.<br /></p>

 

[nimbus]

Education solves consumerism.&nbsp; The market favors what the public buys.. No shallow public, no shallow products. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[kelvinzero]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Education solves consumerism.&nbsp; The market favors what the public buys.. No shallow public, no shallow products. <br />Posted by nimbus</DIV></p><p>I certainly agree that non-shallow values given to children when they are young would make a difference. That sort of education is better given by the parents though, not government programs.</p><p>However it isnt the sort of thing that can be entirely solved individually. Sure, with reasonable effort and banning of television you can bring up your kid to spurn the focus on the latest toys, but then you also must find an entire community of like minded people bringing up likeminded children, or your own child will be constantly ridiculed by their peers.</p><p>I actually find the notion of forming communes an interesting one. Usually they are&nbsp;weirdos&nbsp;but what about a scientific commune?</p><p>It is still a very uphill battle.</p>