Rumors have been widely reported lately that President Bush is going to announce a new initiative to return to the Moon , maybe even with a permanent colony. I've always been a big proponent of manned space exploration, but I have two major worries about this latest plan. First is that it will be announced but never funded. Second is that it will be announced and funded.

My first worry: Bush seems to have developed a habit of announcing major new policy initiatives, but never actually budgeting any money for them. For example, the $15 billion we were supposed to spend to help AIDS in Africa. Only $2.4 billion has been actually spent to date. Or the No Child Left Behind mandates. Great idea, very expensive, where's the money ?

On the other hand, all the other increases in federal spending the last two years, combined with a series to huge tax cuts, leaves our federal budget in a really bad spot. Spending billions more to go to the Moon (as much as I think that would be money better spent than the late not-very-lamented energy bill) won't help the situation any.

The question of fiscal responsibility vs. breaking the surly bonds of Earth comes down to one of planning for the long term vs. planning for the very long term.

My mom and I had this argument once many years ago:

Mom: "Why should we spend the money to build colonies in space?"

Me: "Because at the end of the day, you can't put all your eggs in one basket. It isn't a question of whether the Earth will suffer a massive catastrophe, but when. It doesn't matter if it's nuclear winter or a giant meteor, and it probably won't happen for a very very long time. But when it does, don't you think there should be another outpost? Because if there isn't, that's it. End of humanity for ever, and maybe the end of life on Earth, which is still the only life we've found."

P.S. Mr. President, I respectfully suggest that if you're looking for funding sources, you create a luxury resort on the Moon. It would hardly cover the entire cost of the project, but the added expense would be small, and I'm sure you could raise a few billion from wealthy individuals willing to blow their wad for a month or two on the Moon.