Space colonization as the savior of Humanity

I believe the best would be a capitalist democracy much like the
Merchant Republics. Guarantees a stable and growing economy as well
as just government.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, sraj wrote:
>
> Don,
>
> We could also look at space colonization from a different
perspective. Applying ideas which will be necessary to put up space
colonies to solve immediate problems on our own planet. Relevant
ideas, could be worth many billions of $ and could help protect our
environment and at the same time improve quality of life. This could
be done without firing a single rocket.
>
> 1. How will large human populations live in space? If you see a
typical house on earth, belonging to rich people, the space seems to
be poorly utilized. Is it possible to have better quality of life
living in a smaller area (and sharing wider vistas)? With the present
manner of space distribution, with each family living in a dedicated
house, there are unavoidable inefficiencies, could there be some
other kind of social setup and space utilization plan.
>
> 2. The nature of Work? How will work be distributed in a space
colony? The nature of work today on planet earth seems to be
unsatisfactory. Doing sedentary work continuously does not seem to
enhance health and quality of life. So will there be some kind of
sharing of work. The physicist who works on theoretical problems for
a week and every alternate week helps out in the space hab farm.
>
> 3. The concept of recycling? No space colony can survive without
recycling. But this idea is still to pick up effectively on our own
planet. Especially bringing organic waste of all kinds back to the
farms.
>
> 4. There has been plenty of discussion in this forum of the
possibility (indeed certainty) of wars between different space
colonies. But what kind of governance will there be in each habitat?
Will it be socialistic or will it be capitalistic? How do you keep a
lot of human beings, in a relatively small space from rebelling. (As
planet earth becomes relatively crowded, this could become a matter
of concern in the future)
>
> ... etc
>
> Selvaraj
>
> From: Don Davis
> To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 11:13 AM
> Subject: [spacesettlers] Re: Space colonization as the savior of
Humanity
>
> Over a month ago I posted some comments relating to the
sociological
> implications of Space colonization. In the 70's the idea of
opening up
> the possibility of new experimental societies through space
> colonization was attractive to people who would otherwise be
> indifferent at best to space travel. I suspect this could be true
> today if space colonies began to be widely discussed again. I
think
> the beneficial effects on Humanity of such a space migration
movement
> in allowing renewed branching out of indigenous societies would
dwarf
> the economic and engineering considerations. Is anyone else here
> interested in looking ahead towards what possibilities for new
free