America Has Lost Its Technology Edge

Friday, June 4, 2010

In his May 28 column, Andy Thomas ponders: “A country that can fly to the moon and back can surely cap an oil leak, one would think.”

It is a very common expression of frustration in our country: “We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t (insert pet peeve here)!”

The United States of America cannot fly to the moon and back. It cannot put a man on the moon. It used to be able to do that, but not anymore. The civilization that once attained that pioneering technological peak has declined.

Furthermore, the space shuttle program is coming to an end. The president has canceled the Constellation program, which was to be the next step in manned space flight for this country.

Also canceled is the return to the moon that was scheduled for 2020.

Put a man on the moon? Soon we won’t even be able to launch a man into space. We will be paying the Russians to ferry us to orbit and back. Taste the irony.

Many people are of the opinion that there is no reason to continue manned exploration of space. Here are the reasons: to expand the frontiers of human knowledge; to explore God’s creation.

Some argue: “We might not be able to put a man on the moon anymore, but we could if we wanted to!”

The fact that we don’t want to is the most damning evidence of all of the fall of our leadership in the quest for technological and human development. Now we just sit in the mud and whine about health care and wonder why we can’t cap an oil leak.

Don Bridge

Carthage

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recondo 2 years, 11 months ago

At the same time this editorial was written the Russians were begining a on earth 520 day training mission for Cosmonauts to Practice for a mission to MARS !!!! We have gotten lazy and rely too much on others already for too many things. as my grandfather use to say what we lack is Drive

Weedhopper 2 years, 11 months ago

All we need is someone willing to pay for it. Who has their checkbook handy?

GoldenDreams 2 years, 11 months ago

Don, you've made some great points and I support space exploration as well. But here's the problem: the President and his advisers know that if they sink the money (big money) into space exploration, there will be tons of critics. Very loud critics. Can't you hear it now? "We have so many hungry people in this country and the President is concerned about space?" Here's another one: " Why can't we take care of our problems on earth first, then we'll think about space." You get the picture. Presidents don't want to appear too "extravagant" (for lack of a better word) in an economic crunch.

Weedhopper, you are right on with your comments!