Nearing $16 Trillion, Gingrich Wants to Expand the American Empire to the Moon

When John F. Kennedy spoke of going to the moon, there seemed like there was nothing America couldn't do. Nearly $16 trillion in debt later, many are wondering how much America can afford to do. Apparently Newt Gingrich is ready to spend more in hopes of creating a Kennedyesque image that just won't play out in 2012.

Newsmax reports:

Newt Gingrich is promising to establish a permanent base on the moon by 2020 if he's elected president.

Gingrich, the former House speaker, told an overflow crowd gathered on Florida's space coast Wednesday that he wants to develop a robust commercial space industry in line with the airline boom of the 1930s. He also wants to expand exploration of Mars.

The pronouncements appeared to thrill the crowd of roughly 700 people. Florida's space coast is still suffering from a recent round of federal cuts to the space program.

But how would Gingrich pay for it?

The Republican presidential contender says he wants to offer prizes to help stimulate investment by the private sector.

In other words stimulus money where Newt picks the winners and the losers. Good grief! If the private sector wants to colonize the moon they should do so without creating more debt. This is just insane considering the amount of government spending that continues to add up every year.