Can We Put a Man on the Moon? Dunno.

“If we can put a man on the moon..." is one of those quaint phrases people still say even though it's no longer true, like, "If man can build the pyramids..." It was our ancestors who could do those things, not us. It's like saying, "If I can break a bronco, I can do such and such." We need to stop acting like we can put people on the moon or build timeless structures and talk about the things we really can do, like shrinking stuff. "If we can make a taxi cab that's smaller than the people it contains..."

Sharon Spindler: We are not who we were?

Yes, that's what I'm saying. We've lost what it takes to do certain things. In some cases what we've lost is know-how (such as: how did the early South Americans create the black Amazonian soil, terra-preta?). In others, what we've lost is a united public will and things of that sort. We have the brains to put more people on the moon, but not the drive to create a great future, the belief in grand public projects, the national self-confidence, and so on.I think it's healthy to admit that we've lost certain abilities. Not only is it honest, it might motivate us to get those abilities back. Could we achieve something like Hoover Dam today, or the interstate highway system? Or even build a great public monument like the Lincoln Memorial? Not by a long shot. Too many people are invested in the argument that public spending bankrupts a nation. And in their schemes to steer all public wealth into private hands. And keeping people discouraged and cynical about government and politics. And keeping people from seeing that great public works benefit the nation in all kinds of ways. We have the brains, money, experience and track record to take giant steps into the future, but that does not serve the interests of the mighty few. And whatever they don't like they now have the power to make about half of us not like it, too.