Two men look out a window. One sees mud, the other sees the stars.
(Oscar Wilde)
Strauß had done it. He had pushed a resolution through the Reichstag that demanded the establishment of a residential colony in the Jupiter system. It meant a great number of deputies belonging to the ruling coalition must have voted for the proposal. Had Strauß busted the coalition? Rather not, but he undoubtedly had done a lot of damage. Well, the colony was the darling of the public. Who could reproach the deputies for doing what their voters wanted?
Okay, the Krosigk government wasn’t obliged to comply. But if they ignored it, they were risking an unprecedented row of riots. So, saying yes and doing nothing was perhaps the wisest approach. The frenzy wouldn’t last forever. Hans Kammler had sent a paper to the Wilhelmstraße pointing out that before 1966 no fleet of NPP ships was going to be available. Obviously, the Feuerdrache alone shouldn’t – and couldn’t – do it.
One could only hope the nonsense faded away before one was forced to implement the resolution. Such a residential colony wasn’t good for anything. There was no population pressure in Germany; one had lost ten million people just a few years ago. A scientific research station might be established sooner or later – when a great number of NPP craft was available. But a residential colony would be utterly useless – at any time.
Who needed ordinary citizens on the Jupiter moons? Nobody did. It would cost a fortune to ferry them over – and another fortune to sustain them. Money poured down the drain, beyond question, for no sensible purpose.
(Oscar Wilde)
Strauß had done it. He had pushed a resolution through the Reichstag that demanded the establishment of a residential colony in the Jupiter system. It meant a great number of deputies belonging to the ruling coalition must have voted for the proposal. Had Strauß busted the coalition? Rather not, but he undoubtedly had done a lot of damage. Well, the colony was the darling of the public. Who could reproach the deputies for doing what their voters wanted?
Okay, the Krosigk government wasn’t obliged to comply. But if they ignored it, they were risking an unprecedented row of riots. So, saying yes and doing nothing was perhaps the wisest approach. The frenzy wouldn’t last forever. Hans Kammler had sent a paper to the Wilhelmstraße pointing out that before 1966 no fleet of NPP ships was going to be available. Obviously, the Feuerdrache alone shouldn’t – and couldn’t – do it.
One could only hope the nonsense faded away before one was forced to implement the resolution. Such a residential colony wasn’t good for anything. There was no population pressure in Germany; one had lost ten million people just a few years ago. A scientific research station might be established sooner or later – when a great number of NPP craft was available. But a residential colony would be utterly useless – at any time.
Who needed ordinary citizens on the Jupiter moons? Nobody did. It would cost a fortune to ferry them over – and another fortune to sustain them. Money poured down the drain, beyond question, for no sensible purpose.