Bezos Flight and Fancy

I was drawn to the launch of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin like millions of others. My guess is that it has something to do with the excitement of watching the human quest to do more or to be first. But my interest was quickly turned to scorn, pity and some real disgust as I realized the depth of the inequality and arrogance of rich, privileged, white men represented by Bezos. He hasn't been very visible in my world until yesterday. I had never seen an interview or any in depth coverage of him as an individual. My sense was that he was a bit reclusive other than sending some x-rated selfies to a new woman friend.

But all that changed yesterday. He exposed himself very clearly as the new age colonialist of our solar system and perhaps all of space. It began with the visual of a grown man attempting to be a down home boy with his old cowboy hat versus a helmet for a space flight. I should have known at that point that we were all in for a not so pleasant ride.

Commentators began talking about the public, private partnership that had led to this day. How a private company (not just one by the way) was creating all of this new technology for the government (actually for the highest bidder). Of course all of this came with some government support, contracts, etc. Wait, hold on! Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man in the world, is getting government support and contracts? Let that sink in for awhile. Another great partnership that your government has gotten you into. The wealthiest man in the world, the man who pays little to no taxes is getting taxpayer support for his projects into space. Hmm..

Up, up and away, but not for long. A return to earth and a capsule surrounded by more wealthy people wearing more cowboy hats in adulation of their friend, benefactor, shaking bottles of champagne in the heat of Texas at 8:30 in the morning. None of this seems right at the moment.

When Bezos speaks, he speaks about space colonization. He describes the world he envisions for everyone else, where all industry is moved to other planets to save this one. Earth will just be for living. Industry and work will be elsewhere. He compares this vision to his creation and development of Amazon. Everything starts small. Today is just the beginning. He sees nothing wrong with the fact that no one else has had anything to say about what he's proposing. He's thought it out, he's figured it out for all of us and he promises there are absolutely no other planets like this one in our entire solar system, so there.

As any good patriarch does, he thanks all of his Amazon customers and employees, who he acknowledges actually paid for his few minutes in space. It all ends with him handing out $200 Million in Courage and Civility awards that he must hope, help cover and forgive a multitude of sins and omissions.

All of this is in the best and truest of the capitalist traditions and it would be unpatriotic to think anything ill of it. Yet at the end of the day, the poor continue to be poor, the homeless continue to be homeless, workers continue to be exploited for profit by a few, and the endless wars continue. Our planet is dying and suffers from the abuse we all continue to put her through. Mother Earth, wars, hunger and poverty aren't just part of a game played by wealthy, privileged, white men. They represent billions of people who need community, who need help and support. Jeff Bezos, no matter what he thinks, doesn't have all the answers.