'Sup? Packing and stuff
Music: Live to Win by Paul Stanley
Dear Big Biz,
How you doing? Pretty good I think, despite the global economy. Don't worry, I'm not hear to rant, and I'm not here to talk politics or ideologies. I'm here to talk money.
By now there's little doubt that consumerism is where it's at. Not only is it useful for distracting the third estate, but it's also the easiest, and least violent, road to power. Well, generally less violent, but I promised I wouldn't be distracted by politics. But the thing is, while you've amassed power here on Earth, you've surely realized that is peanuts to the kind of wealth and power that resides 'out there'. Yep. I mean in space.
But I know you don't believe me, or you'd already be out there, so here me out.
Yes, many a sci-fi writer has tried, in vain, to convince you that just mining the asteroids itself would be a more worthwhile venture than anything possible on Earth alone. You haven't listened to them, so I don't expect you to listen to me. Instead, I'll appeal to your megalomania.
And let's face it, you all have that in spades. The reason for getting wealthy in the first place may be personal, but sooner or later everyone with power begins to think of building their dynasty. So I'm coming at you from right between your legs. Yep, you're offspring, you're little tykes, you're sperm and eggs that will ensure your immortality in the history books.
So the first thing to realize is that all you've amassed, all you've built could be lost at the drop of a hat. That is,, a mile wide, rocky hat crashing into us from space. Sad isn't it, that one tiny huck of debris could instantly vapourize all your hard work, all your future? And there's one on the way that has better odds of hitting Earth than you do of winning the lottery.
Or maybe some psychologically-challeged genius invents a [enter your worst fear here] and wipes out most/all of the human race. That's also a very real possibility, especially as technology advances and more and more hi-tech reaches the hands of the average person. As likely as not, this could also happen in the current century.
So, reason number one to go into space: survival. To let the dynasty live on. If the eggs are in different baskets, they can't be destroyed by one careless act.
Admittedly, you must have heard that reason and have already made your decision whether or not to believe/worry about it. Most likely you've decided it's all a bunch of hoo-ha, being as I haven't heard of any deep-crust shelters or space arks under construction. So, I've got another reason that will appeal to your patriotic zeal and desire for control. Oh yea, and untold wealth. And as far as we know, it's ours for the taking. What we
don't know is how long that will last.
Just think of it. Earth is one tiny planet circling one pretty insignificant star. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years across with several hundred-million stars. Circling each star, on average, there are likely to be several planets based on what we've been finding in the last few decades. To date, of course, we know of precisely one intelligent species. Us.
So, assuming that's all there is at the moment, there's no hurry. Except for one thing.
We don't know if we're alone.
There could be numerous intelligent lifeforms in our own galaxy that we simply haven't had time to detect. Consider that SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has been searching the skies for around 50 years with no success. In real terms, that means they've been able to detect radio waves that were no more than 50 light years away when SETI started. I remind you that the galaxy is 100,000 light years across and we are 20,000 light years from the closest edge--and therefore, obviously, about 80,000 light years from the other edge.
In other words, we've barely scratched the surface of the search.
Now, it's true that if a space-faring civilization existed 100,000 years ago we could be detecting them. If they haven't died out. Or moved on. Or learned how to hide their transmissions. But it's not unreasonable to think that intelligence takes time to evolve, and thus they may have reached civilization on a time scale very close to ours. Or perhaps even a little bit after us.
So they could be out there, at a similar stage of development to us. Do you really want them to take control of space first? Think what that could mean.
1. Their galactic empire grows first.
2. They take control of unique resources, allowing them to grow further and faster.
3. Their empire dominates the galaxy.
Now, maybe that doesn't sound bad to you. After all, they could be friendly. Everything might work out well... despite numerous examples in human history to the contrary.
But I know you. And I know you would not be happy with this situation. And I know why.
Because you wouldn't control the economy.
Yes, that's right. Whoever gets out there first, whoever gets their empire built first, sets the rules. And that includes the economic rules. Humans would instantly become second-class citizens in the galaxy, having to live in a system created by real aliens--not the kind you pretend to dislike while secretly hiring to avoid paying employee taxes. No, these are honest to goodness, bonafide, don't think like humans, may not particularly like humans, aliens. Only we'd be the ones asking for crap jobs to live in their rich civilization.
So, Big Biz, as I know you're all about controlling power, why aren't you creating space programs, and encouraging research into extraterrestrial colonization. Because if they beat you to it, you'll never regain that lost power.
Best wishes,
Edwin H Rydberg
P.S. Insight and longevity
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