The American Moon program paid of in so many inventions, so many things that helped society, that it more than paid for itself. The seeindipitious discoveries of a program such as that almost almost always outstrip the original program itself.
We are throwing away exploration. For the first time in the history of the United States, nobody is really trying to extend the boundaries, no government program is attempting to go beyond the known, and learn for the sake of learning.
We WILL lose out by not doing this. The Chinese have already announced that they plan to go to the Moon. They have the technical expertise to do this, and it is highly likely that they will. And, the United States no longer even has the capability of putting a single man into Earth orbit!
It's a shame, but that is exactly how countries lose their place in the world. They lose their will, over time they lose their military power, and other countries move on an surpass them. And once they have surrendered the top, not one county in history has ever regained it.
Gingrich spoke of the goal, and was ridiculed by the press, and by the other "would be leaders". The Democrats are so caught up in making the United States a totally socialistic country, and far too many of the Republicans can only see military might and nothing else.
Oh well, I had always wanted to learn Mandarin. I have been fascinated with China since I was a little boy, in the late 1940's, hearing my grandfather talk about his days as a Missionary there. And, as he said way back then, once China wakes up, nothing in this world will ever hold them back from dominance.
Oh and Clifty, you are totally insane to even begin to think of a "One World Government". It will NEVER, happen, unless mankind itself undergoes a massive transformation into something totally different.
