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I've often thought world leaders, upon election/selection, should get a free few orbits of the earth, to give them some perspective on the job they're about to
by kitd 6mo ago
I've often thought world leaders, upon election/selection, should get a free few orbits of the earth, to give them some perspective on the job they're about to undertake. Maybe offer the first one on Artemis II, a deferred one for the current US administration?
- kakacik 6mo agoDo you think sociopaths like current 'leader' would change significantly upon such experience? I unfortunately don't share such optimism.
- bayindirh 6mo agoYou don't have to be an optimist. You have to try. Trying and seeing what happens is also science, after all.
- discreteevent 6mo agoScientists don't try everything. First they run it through expert critical review. This candidate wouldn't make it past the theory stage.
- InsideOutSanta 6mo agoI mean, we can probably predict what will happen based on existing data. "I've seen things up there that are huge, absolutely huge. And let me tell you, astronauts, they came up to me, they were crying, big men crying. Earth, it's a good name, but it's not big enough, not grand enough. So, I'm thinking we rename it. How about 'The Trump Sphere'? It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? And let me tell you, nobody would argue with that name!"
- sheiyei 6mo agoThe point with the last bit was that they should be put in an unsafe craft.
- bregma 6mo ago"Houston, this is Golden One. I'm looking down on the big, beautiful, blue world. They love me down there. They all love me. I'm the greatest astronaut ever in the history of mankind. No one has ever orbited like this before." Yeah, you may be right.
- shiroiuma 6mo ago>I've often thought world leaders, upon election/selection, should get a free few orbits of the earth, to give them some perspective on the job they're about to undertake. Perhaps, but they should also get a few free orbits of the Earth *after* their term ends, on a launch system built by whichever contractor has given the most "campaign donations" to politicians. Surely they'll trust it to be safe, right?
- eru 6mo agoThat would only work for countries with a space programme.
- Ekaros 6mo agoI would also say give them a year of free vacations in various places. Say a maximum security prison in general population, any type of dark camps, hospitals, mental institutions and care homes. Give them the rest and recreation they need in these wonderful places.
- bayindirh 6mo agoJames May of Top Gear has flown with a U2 spy plane once [0][1]. When they reached to the edge of space, May said "If everybody could do that once, it would completely change the face of global politics, religion, education, everything". I can't agree more. Another thing I believe needs to be watched periodically is Pale Blue Dot [2]. [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-COlil4tos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-COlil4tos [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtsZaDbxCgM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtsZaDbxCgM [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g
- antonvs 6mo agoI think you overestimate the effect that would have on the kind of people that most need that sort of humility. Look at what happened with William Shatner and Jeff Bezos when they came back from space. Shatner started to say something about what an impactful experience it was, but Bezos cut him off and was like “Woo! Partay!” and switched his attention to a magnum of champagne.
- Terr_ 6mo agoThere's probably a strong self-selection factor going on, in terms of the kind of person that typically seeks out that kind of experience.
- Rodeoclash 6mo agoExactly what I thought of as well
- mikkupikku 6mo agoExtra tactless considering Shatner is a recovering alcoholic.
- notahacker 6mo agoAnd if the actual U2 pilots (air force pilots and CIA operatives) had come back profoundly changed, someone might have cancelled the programme... Astronauts are regular smart people capable of making good and bad life decisions too.