Wait, what? Beers, where? Hey, does anyone know the election results? Well, the bad news is, with the money spent on the American Presidential election process in the past 3 years, we could have gone to Mars, made a trip to an Asteroid, and then given a filet mignon dinner to everyone on the planet.
The conservative Koch Brothers alone spent a sneaky, dirty hundred million trying to stifle one side and forward another, and all for nothing. We could have the foundation of a lunar base by now.
Most tweeted picture EVER.
4 million re-tweets.
4 million re-tweets.
The good news is... well, the good news remains to be seen, in so many ways. But, today I feel more positive and hopeful than ever before!
I am very happy for President Barack Obama. I am happy about President Barack Obama. I think we're on the right track, headed in the right direction, and have a chance to forward an effective national fiscal and scientific recovery. Over the years since Obama was elected, I have repeated a series of posts about "The Obameter" in terms of promises kept for our pet space projects, with the largest accomplishments coming in 2010 and 2011.
While the loss of the Constellation program and the retirement of the Space Shuttles felt like severe blows, the NASA Authorization Act, the extension of scientific aims on the International Space Station were gratifying strides forward -- strides that, with no apologies, I do not think would continue under a Republican administration.
We of the geek persuasion have experienced an exhilarating landing on Mars using bold new techniques, we've pulled all-nighters to watch the huge strides in the commercial space industry, compliments of the amazing employees of SpaceX (made possible by NASA partnerships and technology lending) and, contrary to popular myth, we've actually seen an increase in budgets for long-term missions to Mars and an Asteroid.
These are not episodes of Big Government intruding upon individual lives. These are examples of partisan solutions of a struggling government to do what's right... and succeeding. HOW ABOUT WE KEEP DOING THAT?
Closer to home, among space enthusiasts who understand how our way of life truly depends on space, we've seen a huge spike in social media, conferences, events, and participation. That pattern certainly would have continued, no matter who sits in the Oval Office. Enthusiasm itself is always healthy among the dedicated, motivated Big-Thinkers who lament that the US isn't doing the Big-Things anymore. We yearn for a return to the days when space exploration truly inspires and
That will not happen in a divided nation. That will not happen in a divided government. Like it or not, just as with the last two-term President, the 4 years will pass with a certain person at the helm, and there is nothing that can be done about that until 2016. If you love that idea, support space initiatives with all your might. If you hate that idea, support space initiatives anyway. Regardless of what "side" you're on, it matters more than anything else in our solar system. Literally.
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