| When I ran for Congress in 1998, the reporter for the Longmont Daily Times Call, asked me after the races conclusion if I felt in fact that I was ahead of my time and too far in front of the people. It was a very good question, and I had to admit I probably had put before the people a proposal far in advance of the where the population stood. Since that time, the race toward the commercialization, militarization and conquest of space and it's technologies have moved apace. China has proven it can now put people in space and has developed attack satellites, the European Union sends probes to mars, and Japan has a probe which circled the Moon.
The time when United States and Russia could claim dominance of this important domain of economic, technological and military might is fast dwindling. In order for the United States to maintain a leading role in the high-tech, hig-wage future, it absolutely must not fail to unleash its entrepreneurial spirit in this area of development. The proposed Constitutional Amendment I have support for some time now, states unequivocally that the people now and forever more assert there right to engage in reasonable activities in space. It is this people's entrepreneurial spirit that will help to maintain America's place as the preeminent technological and economic power for our children, and their children to come.
The mere approval this Amendment would require no monies to be appropriate out of the national treasury that is not already earmarked for NASA. The approval of this amendment coupled with the elevation of NASA to departmental status will be an act of renewal and purpose long remembered beyond this age. Therefore, without shame or sense of awkwardness, I ask the American people to approve this amendment. If elected to Congress, I will set this Amendment before that legislative body. It is a small, perhaps, long distance act; but, I believe the vision contained herein would rebound to our benefit in a prosperous future middle class which we cannot now foresee. We must always remember, if our people continue prosperous and advanced, we too will continue in spirit and memory.
The Industrial age is past, the information age is moving fast a pace, and now the technological space age is looming before us. Let us not wait until crisis comes from China or the European Union or India to realize we should have unleashed the genius of our people long ago.
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