In May 1963, the astronaut sitting atop the Mercury-Atlas rocket
“went higher, farther, and faster than any other American … for a brief
moment, Gordo Cooper became the greatest pilot anyone had ever seen.” So
were the ending words of The Right Stuff, an incredibly
inspirational film that followed the brave exploits of America’s space
pioneers, as chronicled in Tom Wolfe’s famous book of the same title.
Heroes they were: Chuck Yeager, Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Neil
Armstrong and all the others who volunteered to charge into the unknown,
routinely working on projects that more often resembled suicide
missions than scientific research. While they garnered glory and
headlines, these men were deeply driven by something far more important:
the opportunity to put America on top in the space race, and in doing
so, become part of arguably the most exciting time in all of
civilization. These explorers opened the door to the final frontier, an
astounding achievement that taught the whole of humankind that no dreams
were too big, and that men and women could aspire to do things greater
than themselves. They literally made true the can-do spirit that “the
sky is the limit.”
But their road was paved with ridicule and doubt. Just years before
these men—and the countless unsung heroes at NASA—achieved the
impossible, their ambitions were considered folly. Putting a man in
space? Pure science fiction. Landing on the moon? Unthinkable,
unattainable, unwise. Reaching for the stars? Grow up.
Yet a mere 58 years after the Wright brothers first took flight,
America put those cynics out to pasture as Shepard blasted into the
record books, with Armstrong later taking the greatest “step” in human
history.
In addition to the lofty goals of exploring worlds beyond our own,
the space race fostered something else: a fierce sense of nationalism
that unleashed America’s competitive spirit as never before. And for
good reason. The Reds beat us into orbit, hell-bent on dominating outer
space. From that point, it was “game on.” And you know what? We won.
Repeated trips to the moon, deep-space probes, interplanetary missions,
permanently manned space stations, and newly discovered technologies
that later benefitted Americans in every aspect of their lives.
That undisputed American leadership was as bold as it was
purpose-driven, the result of generations inspired to study mathematics
and science like never before, all for the opportunity to do things no
one else had ever done—to be on the cutting edge not just of technology,
but of humanity.
The United States still had its problems, of course, but there was
never the slightest doubt that it would continue to achieve unparalleled
greatness as the most benevolent nation the world had ever known. From
attaining civil rights for all its citizens to being the beacon of hope
for oppressed peoples the world over—and yes, to push the envelope in
space—America embodied the spirit that it would always be on an upward
trajectory. Mediocrity, timidness—and fear itself—were not part of the
American vocabulary, and dreams were simply visions soon to be realized.
But somewhere along the way, we lost that spirit. And oh how things have changed.
Now we find ourselves in the midst of The Great Decline—a situation
we have brought upon ourselves—slogging through a tragedy that only
seems to be accelerating.
We haven’t been back to the moon to unlock its vast secrets in nearly
four decades. We have all but abandoned plans for a manned mission to
Mars. And most telling, we no longer possess any means of transporting
Americans into space, instead relying on the Russians to get us to the
(misnamed) International Space Station—you remember, the one America
engineered, constructed, financed and put into orbit. Yes, the same one
that the Ruskies have decided to eventually abandon, allowing it to fall
back to Earth as a crumbling fireball, a once-proud testament to
American ingenuity vaporizing right before our very eyes. The symbolism
of America’s fate is sickening in its reality.
And now we have a new adversary rising, challenging America at every
turn. In addition to owning much of our debt, China now possesses the
fastest trains, the biggest dams, the most dynamic growth and an
aggressive space program. That’s not an endorsement of the Chinese, but
an angry lament that they have taken a page right out of America’s
playbook, and worst of all, that this nation is paralyzed to counter it.
Instead of rising to the occasion, as we always did before, the United
States seems impotent, content to just watch the events unfold without
so much as a last gasp.
The best example? Mitt Romney, campaigning for the most important job
in the world—leader of the free world and sentry to American
dreams—lambasting Newt Gingrich’s plans to erect a permanent base on the
moon, cut NASA bureaucracies, and incentivize the private sector to
reinvigorate America’s space program. Romney went so far as to say he
would “fire” anyone who dared propose something so bold.
Is that the kind of leadership America needs to get back on track? Think big, and you’re out the door?
But it wasn’t just Romney who attempted to kill Newt’s admirable
vision. So many of the Republican establishment who have been part and
parcel to the deterioration of the American Dream weighed in, none more
noteworthy than the Grand Poobah of Incoherent, Spineless and Worthless
Political Hacks, John McCain, as he skewered Newt’s space vision by
saying that “we ought to send Gingrich to the moon.”
How pathetic have America’s “leaders” become when they can’t separate
partisan politics for even one minute to agree on that which should be a
no-brainer: a rejuvenated space program is so eminently important that
it should be a centerpiece of any administration?
Of course, the cost factor arises, as it should. But that is an issue
that should be settled in budgetary debates. Instead of thinking big,
as our leaders once did, the Romneys and McCains openly delight in
mocking the dreams that still inspire so many Americans. And for what?
Miniscule partisan advantage? Shame on them.
How can we afford to fund such a grand endeavor? The bigger question
is, “How can we afford NOT to?” But it is a legitimate question, so
here’s the answer:
First, it is imperative to use the presidential election platform as a
bully pulpit, explaining to the American people how their money—and by
direct extension, their dreams—have been wasted to fund ridiculous
projects of absolutely no value, including so many entitlement programs
that are simply unaffordable. It is necessary to identify the
mistakes—by both parties—so that they aren’t repeated.
Second, find concrete ways to save money. Ending the pointless
quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan—which have cost Americans trillions of
dollars—would free up huge amounts of capital. Reorganizing the
military so that it isn’t guarding Western Europe from a Soviet land
attack would also be a good idea, since that threat evaporated 21 years
ago. And of course, common sense entitlement reform would free up
trillions more.
Third, grow the American economy to increase tax revenue. We cannot
tax our way out of recession and into prosperity, nor can we simply cut
our way out, as that only places more people on the welfare rolls. But
responsibly utilizing our vast (and unused) domestic energy resources to
become energy independent will allow America to compete with foreign
labor costs. Having the cheapest energy on the planet would be more than
enough to resurrect American manufacturing and permanently jumpstart
the economy.
A thriving economy means bold space exploration would once again be
taken for granted. And if and when that happens, something else far more
important would occur: The indomitable American spirit would once again
nurture the achievable dreams of young children who fall asleep while
looking out their bedrooms windows, gazing upon the moon and stars
overhead with but one thought: Someday, I’ll be up there.