http://www.californiadroughtupdate.org/pdf/20170720-California-Drought-(and-Flood)-Update.pdf
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate the development of the appropriate lunar space craft. We propose to develop alternate liquid and solid fuel boosters, much larger than any now being developed, until certain which is superior. We propose additional funds for other engine development and for unmanned explorations-explorations which are particularly important for one purpose which this nation will never overlook: the survival of the man who first makes this daring flight. But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon-if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.
President John F. Kennedy
‘Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs’
May 25, 1961
A Note To Readers
Today, July 20 marks the 48th anniversary of the day American astronaut Neil Armstrong took that “one giant leap for mankind,” as he stepped onto the surface of the Moon. Those were the days when Americans thought big and acted to bring those big thoughts into reality. It was eight years after President Kennedy announced the goal of achieving, “before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.
Over the following few years we landed men on the Moon six times. Today the U.S. cannot even send our own astronauts to the International Space Station. Oh, how we have shrunk!
But, we need not accept that state of affairs, or that state of mind. On the narrower issue of space policy, the President has stated that his intent is to send Americans back to the Moon. Even that statement is something our previous President ruled out with his statement that we had, “been there, done that.” But, like President Trump’s intent to build infrastructure, intent must be followed by action, and, so far, there is no action in sight. And unless the President will, one, create the only funding mechanism by which such great projects can become real (A Hamiltonian credit system), then there will be no return to the Moon, nor even a dent made in the $8 trillion price tag a real infrastructure building policy requires.
Again this week, and each week into the future, the last section of this report will focus on that topic.
This Week’s Report
The U.S. Drought Monitor remains where it has been these past three months, with just eight percent of the state being in the mildest category of drought. With three to four more months of expected dry weather, I forecast that by October 1, the picture provided by the Monitor will significantly change.
Then comes our weather report on the “record breaking” temperatures, followed by what else but the wildfires that really are becoming serious.
The Oroville Dam update this week features two videos and an item on the latest Board of Consultants Report.
Next, I use a report on the evaporation of large amounts of water from Lake Shasta to discuss the water cycle.
The governor’s Water Fix looks as if it is in serious trouble with the Westlands District expressing even stronger doubts about signing on to paying for it. Three articles present the picture.
Our concluding section on infrastructure, national banking and the threat of a new, even bigger than that of 2008, financial crisis gets to the heart of what must be done and how to do it.
