Moon Basing

So I've mentioned Newt Gingrich's moon base in a few previous posts, and I think it's time that I give it a blog of its own.

In the past I've said that the moon base is Newt's only good idea. That's actually not true, Newt has a pretty good immigration plan. It's not a great plan, but it's a plan, and just having one already puts Newt ahead of the Republican pack, most of whom just peddle xenophobia and talk about walls.

But back to the moon base. I'm only partially serious when I say that I think the moon base is a good idea, but it certainly isn't a bad one. The rest of the Republican party wants to set us back decades if not centuries, but Newt is looking forward. It can sometimes be depressing to know that you live in the greatest country in the world, but hear our politicians - on both sides of the aisle - talking about all the things we cannot do, what we cannot afford, what we cannot or will not attempt.

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard." JFK's challenge galvanized the nation and pushed us to do something difficult, but something of which we should be extraordinarily proud, and something that benefitted us in so many ways. Who is issuing this challenge now? Who is spurring us forward? Lost in all the debate about our domestic problems is the spirit of the American pioneer that has been a part of this country's collective psyche since before we were a country.

A problem? Let's fix it. A question? Let's answer it. A new frontier to be explored and discovered? Let's go there. We always have and we always will, but it helps to have a leader who is willing to suggest and encourage brave ideas. Just because we have problems to solve here doesn't mean that we should stop exploring the unknown.

Newt's moon base is a tangible idea, not unlike putting a man on the moon. It is something that we can work towards. Perhaps the moon base isn't the best manifestation of where our energy should be focused, but rather than belittling the idea, we should suggest alternatives. America should be striving to put a man on Mars. America should be pushing the boundaries of space exploration and of deep sea exploration and of exploration in any and every field in which there is more to learn. That isn't just being American, that is being human.

America is the world's leader, and part of the responsibility that comes along with that is exploring the unknown and pushing the boundaries of our knowledge. We know what we can do, let's try something harder. If we do, we'll find we can do that too.