Hopefully the politicians arent stupid enough to mess it up by competing over land and such

and so we see the spawn of bad governments
no, you cant hope for that. it'll only fail. miserably.

I think they will be forced to, with technology starting to advance at such rates no one government would be able to hold itself together. In my opinion well be pushed together out of need, rather than want.

In my opinion well be pushed together out of need, rather than want.

Space will just be a grossly oversized caracature of what the west was to the United states. a massive frontier with unimaginable resources and expansion, open to pretty much the first pioneers and almost no one else.
thats why I'm so pro-America space project etc. it would irritate me if China got into space first.
and to be frank, only 2 countries represent real opponents to this effect. China, and Russia. anyone else doesnt have the resources to do it (Japan is a great example). you might say the EU, but I dont think a loose confederacy is going to go to bat for each other based on mutual trust and merit. so they aren't much of a concern.

The EU has a very potent economic and industrial power, they are however disorgainzed. Their laws can be as easily disobeyed as those of the UN. However, dont disregard them completly.

they are however disorgainzed.

I wouldnt if this wasnt a problem. but the chances them putting asside their sociopolitical (dont get me started on cultural) differences? unlikely.

True, just as true for the rest of the world. But, people learnd and adapt, who knows what will happen in the future. To say that we wouldnt unite now, is pretty accurate. But, to say we wont ever, is exaggeration.

I dont quite think you mean exaggeration...
but either way, like I said. Now is what matters, not 20+ years in the future, by then the country that reaches the space age will already have progressed far ahead of the others.

I dont think the space age will be ruled by countries, it will be ruled by the companies.

which works for me. because companies are just the same as governments, they require people to work. and people (from our country at least) aren't willing to be stepped on for someone else's profit.

But, they always are. No matter how much the individual complains, the masses will dismiss their fleeting voice with a small nod and go on with their lives.

thats if its not an overarching problem. if it is then it wont last that long.
voices are muted when the majority arent in the same position. if the space programs were to be run by companies, the majority would be the opressed.

No, the companies would become super powerful, they already care little for the customer. Think what they will be like when they gain actual power?

Whew, been away for a while, and this thread has taken a new direction. Back at school now, so I have a lot less time to respond.

I think the space age will undoubtedly be ruled by governments, at least for the beginning. It's a fact of life - every time a new venue for civilization opens, it is spearheaded by the military. The government wants to check it out to see if it can use it for its own advancement. That's how it is right now, too - all NASA astronauts are air force pilots.

Once things settle down and the space age takes hold, then the corporations will roll in. Corporations are always looking for new ways to make money - call corporate space expansion a sort of outsourcing-taken-to-the-next-level. Hell, civilian transportation to space will have to be done by businesses.

Also, I would not cite Russia or China as realistic contenders for the "colonization race" in space. Russia certainly not - the country's economy and military are in total chaos, and right now they are just having trouble keeping them from falling apart completely, let alone trying to make new strides in the field. China, on the other hand, has way too much building to do at home to think about beating us into space. They just launched their first satellite, what, like two or three years ago? We have hundreds up there. There's just no contest, the U.S. will have to be the first up there, unless the economic situation changes radically in the next few years.

Still, I just don't see space as a priority right now. Too much is left to be done down here. Going up into space and forging a new future and forgetting your past to become part of the great pioneering of humanity into space sounds romantic, but the fact is it will only be avaliable to a small minority for many years.

they already care little for the customer.

are you joking?
the customer is all that matters. everything and allthings lead back to the customer.

Think what they will be like when they gain actual power?

people are still required, period.

Also, I would not cite Russia or China as realistic contenders for the "colonization race" in space. Russia certainly not - the country's economy and military are in total chaos, and right now they are just having trouble keeping them from falling apart completely, let alone trying to make new strides in the field. China, on the other hand, has way too much building to do at home to think about beating us into space. They just launched their first satellite, what, like two or three years ago? We have hundreds up there. There's just no contest, the U.S. will have to be the first up there, unless the economic situation changes radically in the next few years.

I agree with you completely. I'm just pointing out that they are the only countries with stable enough infrastructures to even be competators.

but the fact is it will only be avaliable to a small minority for many years.

I dont see it being that way for much longer...

I dont agree. Russias economy is in chaos cause the government isnt smart enough to invest its money back into itself, instead they invest in research and more millitary things. Its kind of stupid yes.

O and i got a good example of Russias oppresiveness.

So i was watching American Dad(god i was bored). It was actually one of their more funny ones. Most of the time they made fun of how the CIA worships Bush, and the fact that hes a recovering Alcoholic. So partway through the episode he got drunk, and started doing stupid things... in front of the public, at night... naked. My mom was walking past and she said something along these lines "If they showed something like that about Putin, they would be sitting in jail right now. Or worse." So i guess Schem won that one.

Next, yes sure they care for the customer, but only as long as they can sell their product. Then its the stores problem. Plus, what are we supposed to do with Oligopolies, theres perfect evidence that Comcast and AT & T have been working together to extort telecommunication rates. And this government is enjoying the money those guys bring in to really bother with it. What does that say?

So i guess Schem won that one.

yes, that is by far the best source out there!

but only as long as they can sell their product

exactly.
besides, the middle man is dissapearing every day now.

Money is the ultimate middle man, it can take down entire nations, and stop the worst of wars. Money is why the world not only revolves, it IS the world. Now thats pure capatalism.

even socialism requires money...

besides, money works as a standard. would you really want to try to guess how many watermelons and kiwis the ISS is worth?
speaking of which I happened upon a really awesome article that explains exactly why socialism is a terrible idea. unfortunately I dont really feel like typing it up/looking for it. maybe later.

Every single government is a terrible idea. We want order, but when we have it we complain like crazy. Its a fact of life, a sad and depressing fact but a fact. Humans have a tendancy to question everything we have and not think twice to actually thank those who provide it for them. We are selfish and we will always be so, thats why socialism just doesnt work, it makes people think about others for once.

thats a very small part of it. the big problem is induced lethargy.

Every single government is a terrible idea

some are worse than others

And that brings up one of my other favorite quotes!!

"It is said that Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time."

What a happy ending

wow.  Old post resurrected.

too long to read and catch up.

Sorry.

Spam nuked. Let's let this one fade back into time.

Was this forum even created in January? Cause GPG didnt cooperate with Stardock until sometime after winter.

 

The SD forums are all cross-linked -- I'm reading this thread from the elementalgame.com forums, or I could be reading it from demigod... or sins...  of Galciv... or...