I know it sounds whacky coming from Newt but when Kennedy announced the race to the moon it was a big shot in the arm for national pride and productivity. Then again, people back then cared about something larger than themselves. Nowadays they'll just worry that this will eat into their food stamp budget...
I disagree. You're comparing apples to oranges.
Come on Scat, you're better than this. Stop trying to promote your, "the poor are greedy and are destroying America" agenda. It's so old.
Back then, people didn't know what was out there. There was a curiosity, sure. But the main reason? We had the Soviet Union to compete with. Right now, there's no one to compete with and we already know what's on the moon. Putting a base up there while so many people don't have jobs in America seems completely retarded.
Americans are as self-absorbed as you (and AM radio) wants. In fact, it's hilarious how you and your ilk like to demonize the poor. As if the rich aren't on the same level of selfishness either. Offsourcing jobs, eating bailouts, demanding subsidies, giving themselves bonuses (while laying off workers), and blackmailing America claiming that if they don't get x, then they won't create jobs.... Of course, foxnews won't report any of this. They're fair and balanced.
America will stand together if they perceive a real threat... I remember the war in Afghanistan was heavily supported. Why? Because those terrorists were a real threat. Osama Bin Laden, was a huge threat. Every American wanted to get those guys.
Right now, there aren't too many real scary threats. And the threats we currently have, are threats that we've had for years and years (Iran and NK). Yeah yeah yeah, Iran will talk and talk, as they've done for decades. But in the end, meh, they'll never piss us off like Osama did. And even if they did, what would building a base on the moon benefit us? Could we launch missiles from there? We already can launch missiles from bases and boats from all over the world. No need to launch missiles from the moon.
And we just aren't in the mood to invade them considering the recent nation building disasters and with the current state of our economy.
The race to the moon was based less on "hey yeah, getting to the moon would be great for science" and more of... "We better get the hell into space before the Russians get there. If they win space, they could end up with a tactical nuclear war advantage."
Lastly, Kennedy announced the "race to the moon" after he had already won his Presidency. Newt is announcing this moon base in Florida while campaigning. He's less concerned about American Nationalism and far more concerned with squeezing out a few votes out of some lame *** doofuses in Florida with connections to NASA.
Ask yourself Scat, do you really believe Newt meant what he said? Or was he just using this hoping to gain votes?
I guess making up history is better than actually studying it.
