Capitalism in Space to be released early next week
After several months of delay for a variety of reasons that I do not need to go into, my policy paper for the Center of New American Security has gone to the printers will be released to the public early next week. The title: Capitalism in Space: Private Enterprise and Competition Reshape the Global Aerospace Launch Industry.
I will have the pdf of this paper available here on Behind the Black the instant it is available. To give everyone a taste, here are my concluding words:
A close look at these recommendations will reveal one common thread. Each is focused on shifting power and regulatory authority away from the federal government and increasing the freedom of American companies to act as they see fit to meet the demands of the market. The key word that defines this common thread is freedom, a fundamental principle that has been aspired to since the nation’s founding. Political leaders from both parties have made the concept a central core tenet of American policy. Democrat John Kennedy stated that his commitment to go to the Moon was a “stand for freedom” in the Cold War. Republican Ronald Reagan proposed “Freedom” as the name for the new space station, and viewed it as a platform for promoting private enterprise in space.
Freedom is actually a very simple idea. Give people and companies the freedom to act, in a competitive environment that encourages intelligent and wise action, and they will respond intelligently and wisely.
The United States’ history proves that freedom can work. It is time that it prove it again, in space.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
AMEN!!!!
Good deal. Look forward!
Why is freedom such a scary concept to so many?
Mr. Z;
-Any appearances on C-Span in the future, to promote the Policy Paper?
-I will be forwarding a copy to a reporter at our regional Business Journal. Is there a “media kit” available to go with it?
Personally, I’d welcome a short essay along the lines of, “how does a Policy paper get written for a think-tank.”
tangentially– the CATO folks have just released their “2017 Handbook for Policymakers.” Haven’t read the whole manual yet but a cursory look and I’m not seeing any specific chapters on Space. (They do a surprisingly limited amount of work on Space and it’s generally defense-related.)
ken anthony–
Freedom, is a scary thing. You have to make choices all the time and live with the consequences. And… if you aren’t practiced, you don’t become proficient.
“Critical Thinking,” is a necessary survival skill we need to be teaching our children, instead they get indoctrinated.
“Handbook for Policy Makers”
8th Edition. Cato Institute 2017
https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policy-makers-8th-edition-2017
Wayne: I have no idea if there will be a press kit. I doubt it. The report itself is easy to read and put forth its conclusions quite clearly. I will write up something for BtB when it is released. Unfortunately, the timing here for me is bad. CNAS has timed the release just before I leave for a weeklong caving expedition to Belize next Wednesday. It makes things difficult.
I think I will write up my announcement essay for BtB beforehand, and have it ready to go so that I can post it with a mere click while in Belize. That way I can push things even when I am caving.
As for a CSPAN appearance, I have no idea. I do not get the impression that CNAS has a publicity department designed to schedule these things. Your question however has prompted me to ask them.
Mr. Z.
Thank you, and “cool!” (I’d like to know how Belize is doing these days. I never see the “Buy Belize” adverts anymore.)
CNAS does have a bit of their own video, at their own site. A cursory search at C-span only yields 15 appearances ( but…all longer format) and…primarily in the last 2 years.
yeah… “media kits,” have been reduced to a 1 page pdf- file these days.
Total tangent–You should start prepping for the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8 next year. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an author! (I would suggest something along the lines of a limited press run, hard-copy edition, with added content. Lots-o-opportunities possible.)
As I am want to do — there’s a decent video at c-span…
https://www.c-span.org/video/?116703-1/genesis-story-apollo-8
“A free society can do it better.”
Excellent interview, Robert. Thanks for the find, wayne.
Edward–
Take a look at:
“The Hubble Space Telescope and the Visionaries Who Built It”
Explorer’s Club
https://youtu.be/5mNJAf83YTs
(1:24:20)
I searched on Bing today (2/21) for “capitalism in space.”
-5 of 6 listing’s pointed to past newspaper (the Usual suspects) articles featuring Obama and how he “brought capitalism to space,” with “innovative partnership programs.” (blah-blah-blah)
on the upside–the other listing pointed to this essay.
Wayne: Those search results will change in the next week or so.
We are now aiming for a March 2 release, mainly because I will be in Belize starting tomorrow until March 1 and won’t be available until then for press opportunities.