The Russian’s did it first. We did it second. Then the Chinese, and if all goes to plan, next it will be India’s turn. What is it? Manned space flight. But, in what could be a sign of ‘things to come’, the U.S. is getting out of the business of launching humans into space. To me, this is another sign that we are on our way out the door of the super power house. Russia, with their vast energy reserves, China and India, with burgeoning industry (fueled by cheap labor) are definitely rising. And the U.S. is on the decline.

We have so much debt it’s unfathomable. Our unemployment rate is high and I doubt it will go down any time soon, if ever. One of the few things that could have reduced our labor costs would have been health care reform, but it’s clear now that anything that gets passed in that area won’t really provide an alternative to our employers having to pay for health insurance. So, our labor costs will remain high, and China and India, without the burden of health insurance on their employers will always have that advantage over us.

And don’t think that we will eventually be able to reform our broken problems. Our short sighted, eyes on the next election politicians will steer us down an irreversible path and only reform as a reaction, when it’s too late. And you thought global warming would be the end of us. No, for Americans, the end will come much sooner than that.

I’m upset about the space program. But I’m not surprised. Our lifestyle cannot be maintained, and this is just another sign. The end is just coming sooner than I thought.