tired old rant - and some other stuff Janet Baker write

> From: janet_baker76
> But let me sum it up violently: in his examples, it adds up to this--
> every single "step" we've taken technologically has ended up being a
> nightmare of some form or other.

I would certianly agree, as I assume most people here would, that almost
every technolgy we've developed has turned out to have a dark side or one
form or another.

> SO LETS JUST CHILL, being the national consensus.
> Let's talk about it, sure, since we got these
> degrees that say we should, but let's not actually
> do it or entertain serious, sustained debate.
> Doesn't that about sum up John's point?

No. Not in any way does that sum up my post.

And personally I've no idea where your 'and so we shouldn't bother'
perception came from.

I'm saying there are vested American interests in maintaining US dominance
in certian key markets. Look up the 'open skies' deal between Europe and the
USA recently. American companies can buy a controlling share in European
airlines, but not vice versa. America is protectionist. That is hardly a big
secret. Now consider that America has almost complete market dominance in
space based intelligence assets. What makes you think the US military is too
stupid to realise what it has, or is *eager* to give it up?

Ask yourself why the follow on competition to the Ansarni X prize is only
open to Americans.

I'm not saying that's the only or even the main reason. I'm sure good old
fashioned short term greed and general stupidity are good indicators for why
we're still stuck on the ground. But I'm also certian that somewhere in the
vast US government, sometime over the past 40 years, at least one person has
sat down and thought through the practical consequences of CATS (especially
foreign nations copying American CATS methods) and has come to the
conclusion that it is, at best questionable, whether CATS is in America's
strategic interests. And has shared their findings.

Given how many good solid ideas for CATS have been burried over the years, I
don't think it's completely unreasonable to suppose it might have happened
deliberately once or twice.

> Well, I'd like to examine it. Let's say he's right and that's the
> mindset.

You can examine whatever mindset you like. Just don't pretend it's mine.

> Yours in Christ, damn it,
> Jan Baker

Okay... You don't seem to like people who lack a certian minimal level of
pride in their nation. I'm pretty sure the people currently running America
or NASA don't belong in that catigory.

John