A lobbying window of opportunity

The National Association of Manufacturers is not John Kusumi. That is but
one example of innumerable interest groups, and in the nuanced world of
politics, yes, they are exceedingly angry about China at this time.

I want to thank the more level headed contributors who wrote back, and
regret the testy exchange with TangoMan. I was bringing to the group some
good information -- China's space shot is a foreseeable occasion when space
will be in the news.

Space will be in the news, but is our space community ready, or are we just
squabbling here? A public relations person would see the opportunity to
leverage the occasion. I can agree with Mike Combs, to steer away from
"non-space" politics. Debates of "freedom vs. tyranny" are outside the scope
of this list. If that is an interesting debate, perhaps join my other group.

However -- when space is going to appear on the radar of the mainstream,
mass media, I should think that space-related politics and advocacy are what
this group NEEDS. The space community should not simply do pipe dreaming,
and I am "offering" to agitate once again for space. Believe me, there is no
'toot' involved here -- in my other work, I must agitate on a routine basis,
together with top Chinese dissidents (as at, e.g., Tiananmen Square).

I already 'agitate' the China issue; long, long ago, I was an active space
advocate, or 'agitator.' I remember going to SSI events, at the age of 14,
going to Princeton for proceedings in the day when I could, and did, meet
Gerard O'Neill. I must have been SSI's youngest Senior Associate. That was
about 1980, the same year that I strolled into a TV station and made my
first on-screen editorial for a stronger space program. By the time I was
18, People magazine called me because I was the maverick / mercurial
teenager running independently in the U.S. Presidential race.

For most people, the foregoing is not feasible. For me, it's my background.

It may be, that there's a chance to put me to good use for pushing SSI's
issues. I would rather have TangoMan as a serious advisor, but some of his
lines stand on fallacy, like dispelling facts with ad hominem arguments. The
National Association of Manufacturers is not John Kusumi, but if Jerry
Jasinowski from that organization popped in and said, "we're angry about
China," TangoMan might say, "The anger that you're citing is your own. What
a joke." Would that he would have more respect for the membership at the
China Support Network, or at Jasinowski's organization. In both cases, we
are representing people that are steamed about China.

It may be that space advocates have very little voice when China orbits a
man. Maybe, we will drop the ball once again, because we are so disorganized
about lobbying and because someone preferred a sand box shoving match with
Kusumi as he returned to the issue. Let me say that I am willing to be
helpful if the issue is the issue; on the other hand, I will not work in an
environment where personal animus turns John Kusumi into the issue.

I have plenty of my own political / advocate stars; I don't "need" more.
When a man offers to extend himself on an uncompensated basis for a public
issue -- well, it is worth my time if I am helped; and not if I am only
slapped.