majka@ubc-vision.CDN (Marc Majka) (09/11/84)
> But there is a whole solar system out there up for grabs! ... There is > an abundance of energy and raw materials available starting 200 miles > above our heads -- I cannot agree with any argument that starts out with > such a false premise about "limited resources". Given the abundance of resources "starting 200 miles above our heads", perhaps we would all be better off if you were to go and live there. ---------- Name & path in the header. Fix your software
chrisr@hcrvax.UUCP (Chris Retterath) (09/13/84)
Ignoring the spite.......
Actually, a frontier would probably be more enjoyable for
"libertarian-types" (whoever they are!).
Getting up there will only get cheaper and cheaper, given the
number of different national governments and private groups
interested in developing space. Last time I looked, the European
Space Agency made a successful flight, the Japanese were seriously
considering a rocket launcher program of their own, and a private
U.S. firm has had (for some time) a private launch ability.
Remember, the technology is over 20 years old!
What this will imply for political systems is anyone's guess, but
some firm predictions about the economic impact can be made:
- cheaper energy, whether from space itself or as an offshoot
of the technology acquired as part of the effort.
eg magnetohydrodynamics on earth, solar satellites above.
- cheaper materials, particularly new 'exotic' compounds.
eg remember aluminium as an expensive metal? Cheap electricity
and new processing methods have made it cheap.
Carbon-fibre materials will become cheaper.
- the end of existing monopolies of information; this has already
started with satellite antennas.
- cheaper communications satellites, as launch costs drop.
- a commitment to weapons in space, as national governments go for the
high ground. Treaties may slow this up, but the result is (sadly)
inevitable.
Socialism seems to be overly concerned with spreading the existing wealth,
while technology and the free market create new wealth for the poor!
I personally beleive that the reason our economy has NOT ground to a
complete halt (given that government is redistributing half of the income
created) is because the market has continually been creating new wealth
to grow on!
"For the rich, running servants can replace running water".
--
Chris Retterath
{decvax,utcsrgv,utzoo}!hcr!hcrvax!chrisr
Soon to be: !hcr!hcradm!chrisr
also available: ....!cygnus!chrishenry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (09/13/84)
> Given the abundance of resources "starting 200 miles above our heads", > perhaps we would all be better off if you were to go and live there. Some of us would very much like to. Are you willing to help pay for it? -- Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry