“Every country has the government it deserves.” So said Joseph de Maistre, and his words ring true to me.
What is it we deserve, then? On a national level, it seems that the politics of class warfare, handouts, and cradle-to-grave coddling have again won the day, and since the resulting system is unlikely to be sustainable over the long term, it seems that we deserve to — or we have at least voted to — decline as a nation. I hate to think it, and I will work to postpone and even correct it, but we seem to be living out the aphorism about the people destroying the republic by voting themselves largesse out of the public treasury.*
Meanwhile, the calendar turned over, and it is another day. And forty-five years ago today — November 7, 1967 — Surveyor 6, the fourth in the series to soft-land on the Moon, was launched from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas Centaur rocket. It would be less than two years before human beings — our countrymen — walked on the Moon.
(We went there, a long time ago, remember? NASA image.)
We had ambitions then, and big dreams. Those were the days.
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*Attributed in various forms to several different people, including Benjamin Franklin, George Orwell, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Alexander Fraser Tytler.
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Wow, that took a quick turn … or a series of quick turns. I’m not sure where to begin.
Sure, I celebrate NASA’s achievements. I supported the shuttle program when I was in the USAF, so it holds a special place in my heart, but it was also prohibitively expensive. Would I like to have seen it continue? Maybe, if we could afford it.
The conclusion that I “want an administration that wants to get rid of the program” because I support one side or the other, however, is a non sequitur because that’s only ONE issue out of many. Likewise, abortion is only ONE issue out of many. To some it’s the key issue, but not to everyone.
Thanks,
G
NASA requires science, and the current Republican party seems hostile to science. They didn’t used to be this way, but science gets in the way of creationism. Plus it’s so handy to make up biology when you’re opposed to Roe vs. Wade, even in the case of rape or health of the woman.
Fascinating that you celebrate NASA and at the same time want an administration that wants to get rid of the program.
I appreciate the comment, though I disagree with the conclusions. No doubt you sincerely believe that’s what you (personally) voted for, but I don’t see how your statements quite add up to either the reality of the country or the realities of the recent campaign.
You might, if you’re of a mind to, ascribe my disagreement to my being part of the demographic you were so quick to call out. Perhaps at some point we can discuss it in greater detail.
Meanwhile, thanks for the comment,
G
We’ve voted for a higher quality of life for all our citizens, not just the wealthy.
We’ve voted to recognize all citizens, not just white straight Christian men.
We’ve voted for equal opportunity, for science, and for sanity in both domestic and foreign affairs.