Space and the American Polity 1: Colony Ships

It's summer, so time for me to try to theorize the Fantastic and bring it to the Pragmatic.

Two summers ago, it was the Technological Singularity and the American Polity (1, 2, 3) and now, spaceships and space colonies and (you guessed it!) the American Polity (based on this post).

Since SpaceX is taking the place of NASA, it is nice to know that the Final Frontier is still being explored.

The Mayflower debarking at Plymouth Rock

Ark I by the Lifeboat Foundation

The Frontier is the American story.  From the Louisiana Purchase (with help by Louis and Clark) to the '49ers who went to colonize California, America has always looked towards the West (and the sea, then the stars) for adventure and riches.

To move forward in the expansion of the Frontier, we must imagine climbing away from the Earth.  Now, the Climate Change believers would like that part, but until we figure where the fuel is coming from (Nuclear, or something else?), they, like other Modern Enviormentalists will want to stop Americans from stretching outward.  (i.e. Look at the Central Valley of California, a place that can feed the West Coast has its water shut off so most Californians get their food from Mexico).

Before we colonize the Universe, America must travel there.  If it takes months via some warp speed technology, great.  If not, we sleep and dream as in the Alien series aboard vessels that carry us into the black.  This post is about those ships carrying us into the Eternal Night and the American Polity.

I. The Colony Ship (Sleep till Destination)-- Representation in Space or on the Hill?

Nostromo from Alien as an example

Imagine that Earthlings look out to the stars and find a planet equal to ours: Earth 2; 
Imagine that the technology allows people to pick up and go to this New World;
Imagine that everyone sleeps until there is a way to get to the New Planet;

The questions become:

1) Are the people traveling to Earth 2 in a self-contained Polity?; Or
2) Are they still Citizens of the American Polity? 

Most ships travel with some skeleton crew.  Given the reliabilities of AI (or even the thought of them turning into HAL), the (human) Skeleton Crew should have a Naval Chain of Command. And the Humans must be able to overrule the AI, if necessary.  But the AI should be on a shared chain of command.

The Skeleton Crew can wake others after a year (or more) of time.  Some sleep, others take command, still following the Navy protocol -- still trumping the AI.

When the ship reaches Earth 2, that part of the discussion will resume in July.

To answer question 2, if the Colony Ship flies under an American Flag, then the Skeleton Crew is under the rules of American Space Law.  

II. Generational Ships (Awake until Grandchildren make Landfall) -- Representation or Self-Contained?

Imagine no Warp Drive and traveling to Earth 2 will take Generations.

Let's call this ship, Canaan, after the land the Israeli's founded after their Exodus from Egypt.

Like Moses, you will not see the promised land, but your children or Grandchildren (or etc. till whenever) will.

Does your ship fall under the American polity? At what point does your Intersteller Ark take up its own Laws?

Let's theorize that it will take 300 years to Earth 2, now what?

A) Communication to/from Earth (1) should last about 100 years, until the point where the Generational Ship loses contact with Earth (1) -- the rules of American Space law (again, if flying under the US Flag) should apply.

B) Before losing contact with Earth (1), the creation of a Canaan Polity is created.  Because it is an American ship, it will be based on the US Constitution. I am sure by this point, Cannan would have its own coinage and social structure, but it still needs a tetherhold to its Genesis.  And without a basis of  Laws, chaos will destroy everyone in flight.

C) The Canaan polity holds until landfall at Earth (2) whereby we take up what happens next in July.

Conclusion: In the Black

If cryonics work, the American polity survives intact with the passengers and crew.

If an Intersteller Ark is needed, then within the social structure of the ship, the American polity might be changed within the confines of the journey.

It all depends who puts the Flag out for our Colonists first.

Parts 2 and 3 are for July and August.

My question: Does American law apply to the ISS as well as other Space Bodies? 

The Ancien Regime is so scared of the Future, they Sent the IRS!

In politics and policy, one either fights for what is or what will be.

The Democrats of 2010's fight for the New Deal (80 years old), the War on Poverty (49 years old) and for Trains (Started in America in 1869 or 144 years ago!).  It is well known that the Democrats are the Oldest Political Party in existence, but too many of their Tribal members act like unhappy Old fogies rather then debaters or futurists.

Modern Democrats are the Party of "No Fun,"  You want examples? I got lots!

1. Mayor Bloomberg ruling on soft drinks even though it is not his concern;

2. Here in LA, clubs close at 2:30 AM and when it was put up to a vote in the (Democratic) Assembly or the (all Democratic) City Council, it fails;

3. Warning labels on things we already know that's bad for us -- who, since 1965, does not know that Cigarettes are bad for you?  Anyone?

4. Paper or Plastic? It depends on what type of Moon is out for the California Assembly to ban one or the other;

5. The Global Warming hysteria -- Don't build technology, don't fly, don't drive cars or weeza all gonna die! (Except the rules are exempt from those who want to "stop," global warming by flying to conferences around the world in warm places)

What did Peter Fonda say in the Wild Angels? 

We wanna be free! We wanna be free to do what we wanna do. We wanna be free to ride. We wanna be free to ride our machines without being hassled by The Man! ... And we wanna get loaded. And we wanna have a good time. And that's what we are gonna do. We are gonna have a good time... We are gonna have a party.  

Now, the Modern Democrats act like an Edward Gorey Victorian:

Oh my! We can't let people have choices! 

And like any Party of the Past, it fights to hold onto power, even if they didn't like the tactics used over 25 years ago.

Like the citizens in Pre-Revolutionary France, the Leaders party and the public cannot enter the People's House. Blame the Sequester all you want, but a true "Party of the People," would find a way for the White House to be opened to the public.  

They have not.

And to maintain the Democrat's hold on Power, they have used Federal Agencies in the way to make the Republican and Tea Parties arguments (future post).

Do we really trust Democrats and their bureaucracies when they have to know where you stand politically first?  McCarthy is dead! Long live McCarthyism (see Conservatives in Hollywood, Blacklist)!

Wm. F. Buckley was right!

While the Democrat's party with the Press, the people are rising. 

The French storming the Bastille or Americans in the near future?

My question: Why do Democrat's claim to be for "the people" and then act like Pre-Revolutionary French Aristocrats when in power?

A Silly Movie (and some Music)

After the chaos of yesterday in Santa Monica (more on this on Sunday night), I think it's time for a silly movie post.

If the Government is listening in: Remember, watch out for angry citizens.

Now back to your regular programming.

First, a music video harkening back to the 80's: 

And now, Monty Python and the Holy Grail!

For we are the knights who say "Ni!" 

Enjoy!

Tonight, I dance, and tomorrow, we discuss the world. 

The President in Santa Monica; He Listens But Does Not Hear

The President is coming to Santa Monica for a fundraiser (again!), I expect traffic will be crazy on the Westside all the way to Sepulveda and the 405 (Actually, when are they not busy?!?)

Here there be Traffic

This comes on the heels that the NSA was spying on Americans through phones and the 'Net.  

Add this atop the IRS and the Senator McConnell bugging and I fear we have fallen into East Germany.

I expect no Democrats will protest this breach into civil liberties (It was a tool to attack President Bush, not an actual principle to stand on) at the fundraiser or in Santa Monica or on KPFK.

To quote Orwell (again), “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
[Note: I am not calling the President or anyone an Animal (even though we are all mammals), but I am noting that Democrats put aside their beliefs as long as a D is in front of their name]

But, my question is not for this Administration or the Democrats (they do what they do because of the Tarkin Doctrine -- hating Republicans means more then Governing), but for the staffers of the PRISM program:

Who gave the order?  

Was there any Internal Debate from within the Intelligence Community?

Does the Intelligence Community trust this Administration? Why or why not? 

Thanks for all your help.

Wish me luck as I head to the Westside today because a President who listens to our conversations, chooses not hear his constituents voices.

My question: What worries you more? The Administration or the Democrats complacency after their actions from 2003 - 2008?

Big Brother's Eye on the San Fernando Valley

Know what's funny?

For years in the Valley, I've been saying the Modern Democrats are like INGSOC.  An Outer Party to keep up the lies (i.e. the Zombie Journalists like Charles Pierce and Garance Franke-Ruta) and an Inner Party to maintain Power.  (The Ancien Regime and Obama Administration post will be published soon)

That include President Obama and Democrats

 Orwell was right, but he chose the wrong country. 

Only if you are a Tea Partier

Let us meet Big Brother (on paper):

"...the hostile figure melted into the face of Big Brother, black-haired, black-moustachio’d, full of power and mysterious calm, and so vast that it almost filled up the screen. Nobody heard what Big Brother was saying. It was merely a few words of encouragement, the sort of words that are uttered in the din of battle, not distinguishable individually but restoring confidence by the fact of being spoken..." 
-- Orwell, 1984, Chapter One

Let us meet Big Brother (IRL):

(I know Karen Kenney from the SFVRC -- watch this video!) 

What surprised me (and made me laugh) was that, in cases of the First Amendment and the General Public, the Left and many Journalists are against the little guy. 

In 1974, Democrats on Capitol Hill voted AGAINST 

 using the IRS in a political fashion (Article 2, section 1).  

What's changed since 1974 Steve M?  Maha?   Digby?

Or do the Democrat's need of a 2 Minute hate against Republicans more important then standing up to your own Elected officials (D) and say "This is wrong!" 

Victor Small of Wappingers Falls, NY needs his Two Minute Hate to survive. 

If you can't primary a Democratic Party Elected official over corruption, why am I expecting better from these people?  1972 was too long ago.

For now, like clockwork, all the Zombie Journalists are talking of Rep. Issa's  20 year old past instead of the (current) misuse of Government power.   

Democrats only care about you if you are a Democrat of the Outer Party (see Jamaica, NY; Compton, CA; Detroit, MI and other places for further examples); if you are a citizen or in the opposition, they don't care.  Anything can be said about political opponents (not enemies, opponents -- Democrats forgot that since Goldwater 64), if you are NOT part of the Borg (Democratic Party i.e. INGSOC), the Reign of 2 Minute hate will rain upon YOU (see Kathy Kenney above)

As long as modern Democrats and their partisans love Big Brother (they show no signs of doing anything about the IRS, other then to mock and belittle those who worked within the system to apply for 501c4 status -- just like Media Matters for America or Organizing for America), we who are active citizens have to worry about our own Government. 

It seems Steve M, Maha, Digby, Victor Small and Charles Pierce forgot a piece of poetry:

(Bastardized here)
First the came for the Tea partiers; But I was Liberal;
 Then they came for the Republicans, And I was a Democrat....

My question: Why do Democrat's love Big Brother and his Two Minute Hates of their fellow citizens? 

June 2013 Tip Jar and a Gothy Muse

It's June, it's tip jar time, so please help me raise $500 for the month. (TY!)

Hit the Tip jar here (or here ---->)

Again, this helps.

This month's Gothic Muse is the predecessor to Elvira: Vampira. 

Vampira's real name was Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi or Malia Nurmi in Hollywood. She was from Ohio from a Finnish family.  Inspired by Charles Addams' Morticia Addams, she had her own show.  If you ever saw Plan 9 from Outer Space, yes, that was her too.

She also inspired a comic book, Vampirella. (Wait for another month for these pictures)

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Now, here are pics of Vampira!

Happy Early Halloween! 

Publicity shot

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Vampira and Bela Lugosi in Plan 9

I hope you enjoyed these pictures.

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