This victory was not won on a clear campaign of issues like the 1994 Republican Contract with America, but by the failure of the Democratic Party to find a rallying cause and it's leaders' obstruction of a homeland defense bill.

The voice of the American people is clear, "To stomp out terrorism" and to ensure the defense of our homeland, preventing future attacks like 9/11.

This leaves no clear action from either party about what to do about the economy. The solution - is the same that JFK saw in 1961, "this new ocean".

Compare for a moment the similarities in world events:

1961: We were at the height of the Cold War, defending ourselves against a penny dictator in Cuba that could explode into a worldwide war with communist nations and Nuclear weapons. The space program was the solution to give the American people and the World hope, a brighter future and economic recovery.

2002: We are at the height of a war on terrorism, preparing to defect ourselves against a penny dictator in Iraq that could explode into a worldwide war with Muslim nations and Nuclear weapons. The space program is again the solution to give the American people and the World renewed hope, a bright tomorrow and economic recovery.

On this I heartily agree with Mr. Robertson, our national and international goal should be onward and upward, "...The beginnings of new trade for raw resources needed by the Space Station and applications satellites, rare minerals, and knowledge, in exchange for the complex technologies and manufactured goods needed from Earth."

Unfortunately, the Democratic Party, long ago left the ideals presented by JFK. JFK worked for a smaller federal government, not a larger one and his support of the Space Program was to create jobs, not a fight for social experimentation or a way to force his ideals on an unwilling populace as his party does today.

Instead of sharing Kennedy's positive hope for tomorrow, the Democratic party has chosen to spread fear and hatred, the politics of class warfare, unearthing centuries old racist pain and heartache and spreading fear amongst our elderly.

The Space Program created the foundation for the high technology economy that we have today, but it was built with slide rules, not with the use of that technology.

Now that the technology has been perfected and put to everyday use, our space program still operates as in the days of old.

The Space Shuttle still uses computers from the 1960s and until 1992 didn't even use semiconductor memories, which have a MTBF of 10e-12 higher than iron core memories.

The average PDA has more computing power and memory than the Shuttle's onboard computers and for an insignificant fraction of the weight and power!

A renewed space program shouldn't be attempted by huge government expenditures. Instead we need the federal government to reduce the risk by limiting the awards in liability lawsuits. (Laws that allowed the widow of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan to sue every company that had a part on his Cessna 335 aircraft. (Cessna Aircraft Co., Textron Inc., Parker Hannifin Corp., Sigma Tek Inc. and Aeroflite Inc.)

I disagree with Mr. Robertson, in that the American continent was indeed colonized without government help, by groups such at the Puritans who were actually fleeing from an overbearing government, which led to the our war of independence from that government.

The exploration and surveying was carried out at government expense, but our federal government has already played it's part in exploration and surveying of the moon. It's time not to expand our government (Democratic interests), but it's time for capitalist interests, private interests, even the individuals who can afford it to play their part!

There has been far more progress with the partial privatization of the Shuttle operations in the past ten years then during the first. The operation costs have been reduced by 40% and safety has been increased by 800%! The Space Shuttle and the EELV are transportation systems, systems that are better managed by the private sector than the federal government.

Consider for a moment the success of the 1990's computer and semiconductor market. Our federal government created the internet, but didn't seek to control it and levy heavy taxes on it.

In fact the regulations for this industry was created by itself, through a group called SEMI, the "Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International" This agency promoted R&D cooperation, standardization and regulations from an international body of businesses AND governments.

Because of this agency the safety record in semiconductor manufacturing exceeds all others and the cost is affordable, semiconductors have become a commodity. Consider what this his type of agency and international cooperation could do for the medical or energy markets? - We would no longer have oil spills or doctors prescribing the wrong medication or operating on the wrong patient!

I would like to issue the following challenge to the Republicans: To re-address the national priority on space, supporting Kennedy's dream of: "this new ocean"!

• Privatize the operation and development of the Space Shuttles.
• Fully fund and support the International Space Station, Crew Return Vehicle and space station research as outlined in the Report by the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force.
• Renew exploration of our solar system.
• Finally to create a permanent manned station on the moon and transportation system from the ISS to the moon. The LLM was the cheapest and most successful space vehicle ever produced, let's see if NASA can improve on the old design.

As Kennedy said, "We chose to do these things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". As the greatest nation on earth the responsibility is ours to unite people, to create a "positive, exciting vision of the future"

Tom Wiley describes himself as a conservative Republican with a keen interest in sustainable space development.

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