Gary Johnson's Stance on Space Exploration
Gaffe-prone Gary Johnson says humans must inhabit other planets, NY Daily News
“Gary Johnson might want to study up about Earth before worrying about other planets. The Libertarian Party presidential nominee — who earlier this month infamously failed to recognize the Syrian city of Aleppo during a nationally televised interview — said Sunday that the human race will ultimately be forced to live on other planets. “I mean, the plate tectonics at one point, Africa and South America separated and I am talking now about the Earth and the fact that we have existed for billions of years and will going forward,” the gaffe-prone former New Mexico governor said on ABC’s “This Week.” “We do have to inhabit other planets. I mean, the future of the human race … is space exploration. So, no, we should be prudent with the environment. We care about the environment,” he said.”
Gary Johnson’s Solution For Climate Change Involves Moving to Other Planets, Gizmodo
“Look, what it points to also is the fact that we do have to inhabit other planets,” Johnson continued. “The future of the human race is space exploration.”
Keith’s note: I just deleted half a dozen posts by readers that have nothing to do with the topic of this post: space policy. If you people cannot stay on topic I will shut off comments on election 2016 posts again.
When I was working with the Southwest Regional Spaceport Task Force in NM (now Spaceport American) I was part of a group that made a presentation to Governor Johnson and his staff. He easily understood the potential of space commerce and the spaceport. It was no surprised that NM hosted the X-Prize Cups and moved forward on Spaceport America while he was governor.
It should also be noted he has a great reputation for recognizing government waste. Based on this I suspect he would immediately see SLS for the waste is it and pull the plug on it. I also see him reorientating NASA towards more support for space commerce ventures. I believe under him America would see a NASA reborn with the spirit it had when it was founded.
Yes, it is a pity he is frozen out. As a former governor, and with another former governor as his VP selection, he is the most viable third party candidate to come along in decades. And he would be a boom to the commercial development of space.
Yes, it is sad how whenever a presidential candidate talks about space policy in any matter except the “official” NASA to Mars theme the main stream media makes them out to be a kook. And as usual the silence of the space advocate groups in their defense is deafening.
Is it any wonder America’s space policy has been stuck in a rut for decades?
He’s right of course, and those ideas aren’t his to start with as most of us are quite aware. When did we as a people lose the ability to dream big? Sad that we see this kind of policy shaming as if the ideas are akin to belief in fairies.
That’s an easy question – and possibly inflammatory, but I’m just commenting on what I see.
Dreams – at least those we can build together through government – cost money. Our country is in the midst of a decades-long national debate on the role of government. In particular, the ability of government to sponsor infrastructure programs or space programs or whatever is hobbled by a persistent ‘rob the beast’ policy. The idea is that the money is available if we just cut the waste. Probably right to some extent, but the promise that this policy will lead to the ability to enjoy those big dreams, like space exploration because the economy will surge ahead simply isn’t happening (see Kansas).
Moreover there is a malaise – almost a third world mentality – in the country caused at least in part by income redistribution and our inability to expand roads, railways, airports – and the space program that a great nation like the United States surely can and should support.
Pedantically, it’s “starve the beast”.
Americans have been arguing about the proper role of government since the Federalist Papers, its nothing new. And we have been in economic crisis just as long. Its nothing new.
Progress, from the Louisiana Purchase to the Transcontinental Railroad to Project Apollo comes when a handful of folks just decide to move forward regardless of what is going on. The only hope I have for this presidential election is that whoever gets in doesn’t mess with space commerce, in particular they don’t over regulate it. Fortunately none of the current candidates seem to be threatening to do that.
As for NASA, I also expect neither will rock the boat either as it is not in their interest to do so. So really when they say anything about space its no different than a TV host shouting out the name of some small town, merely a tactic to build support by let the folks there now they are aware of their existence.