COMMENTARY | Newt Gingrich, campaigning for the GOP slot in this year's presidential election, has a new idea: colonize the moon. CNN reports the price tag for this idea could be more than $500 billion. Taking a look at Gingrich's concept it becomes apparent that this is a grandstanding move, impractical at best, and has no real merit other than grabbing headlines.
Gingrich fears Chinese space domination
Gingrich said it concerns him another nation, like China, might come to "dominate space." What is he afraid they are going to do, build a military base on the moon? Act out a scene from an Austin Powers movie and build a huge laser on it to fire at Earth? Does he think they will swarm over the surface of the moon and inhabit the entire surface of the moon?
If the Chinese want to build a moon base go ahead and let them. The closest analogy we have on Earth at the moment is the South Pole. No nation has rushed to swarm all over that land mass. Gingrich is fearful for no reason.
Gingrich says moon base programs will spark innovation
That's possible, but is it advisable? We already have hard-to-reach places right here on Earth where human bases of operation could be useful -- like on the ocean floor, where we might find oil reserves. Why not innovate ideas that can be used right on our own planet?
Big price, small base
The base in question might be big enough to house 10 people. You'd think a half-trillion-dollar price tag would buy something a little more useful. What real benefit would be gained by moving 10 people to the moon? It's not like the moon is a large brick of solid gold floating in orbit around Earth. We sure don't have the technology to turn the moon into a human-habitable planet -- and if we did how would ten people change the entire moon?
Gingrich is showboating, nothing more. The moon colony plan would be an expensive waste of taxpayer funds with no real benefit to recoup its cost. Focus on creating opportunity on this planet, Mr. Gingrich, before you worry about others.
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