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The Case for Lunar Property Rights
longacre writes "Who owns the moon? In a thought provoking piece, Instapundit blogger/law professor Glenn Reynolds gives us a brief history of earthlings' discourse on lunar property rights, a topic which has stagnated since the 1979 Moon Treaty. Is it possible to claim good title on land that is not under the dominion of a nation? He goes on to plead his case for the creation of lunar real estate legislation. From the article: 'Property rights attract private capital and, with government space programs stagnating, a lunar land rush may be just what we need to get things going again.'"
This article is dripping with bullshit neoliberal mythology about the nature of property. Its seen as some kind of holy grail to attract all-powerful capitalist wizards that make things happen.
The fact is, no profit based enterprise has ever sent men beyond sub-orbital hops. Most attempts at private exploration fail hilariously. There is no evidence, beyond the blind faith in the 'invisible hand' that capital can drive space exploration. Even if states are failing, the solution is not to place matters in the hands of corporations who are largely structured in the same way as government agencies and have the added disadvantage of being enslaved to the profit motive.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
You, Americans, have a pretty weak claim on your own country's land (Native American genocide and such), and you expect someone to respect your stupid attempts to exclude others from celestial bodies that you can't even reach?
Seriously, WTF?
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.