Perhaps with just a couple of partners. Japan and Israel come to mind.
We need to get out there and establish our culture first so that others will be at a disadvantage by having to adapt to *us*, not the other way around.
In addition, I happen to think that American culture is superior to all others on the planet (sorry, foreign FReepers) and is worth preserving. If we can get well established out there, we can ensure the survival of the human race as well as our values and culture.
I fully agree with this option. America must once again, become the leader in space exploration.
I am old enough to have watched Neal Armstrong land upon the Moon. I am ashamed to explain to with the people I work with today, that it is impossible for America to reproduce that achievement today.
There is no excuse for other countries to have a more advanced space exploration capability than America.
No excuse!
Something has to be done, that's for sure. It's far too easy for politicians who care nothing for the future of humanity aside from their own re-election to place space programs on the chopping block.
When I was a child, my father took me to visit the space center in Houston several times. Visiting the place was always an instpiration for me. When I was 20, I returned there - this time as a tour guide for my uncle who was visiting from out of town. By then, the inspiration had gone. The place looked more like a museum memorializing the great accomplishments of the past than anything else.
I seriously doubt that the up and coming public school educated puff daddy generation has the capacity to do anything worthwhile in space.
It is a wonderful vision, and, to be fair, it is is not really Bush's vision, but one that has been kick aroiund for years.
I hope it is realized though the socialist will find a way to detroy it if they can.
If it goes through even at the planned funding level I predict that in the end it will be for this that Bush is remembered rather than the WOT.