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To join the Mars Society, just click the "Join us" link in the side menu. This will display a page from which all levels of membership/sponsorship can be purchased. Donations can also be made on this same page.

Money as Debt

Going to mars is going to be expensive. Just how expensive depends on the plan under consideration and who one talks to, common estimates range from $2Billion to $500Billion. But where does money come from? who controls it? how does it really work?

As we are going to need a lot of money, then it only makes sense that it would behoove us to know the answers to these questions. The documentary "Money as Debt" answers these questions in a very easy to understand way. I have purchased the DVD and will attest that this is well worth the small purchase price to buy. It can also be found for download, but as these downloads are provided by third parties, there is no knowing if they have been edited.

MarsLETS

Once you have seen the above video, the need for currency reform will start to become clear. One of the better options is to start a LETS (Local Exchange and Trade System), which is both a currency and a place to buy and sell things using that currency.

It seemed that it would be good for the space advocacy community to have a LETS, but a search for software soon concluded with the result that there were not really any viable packages available. There was one, some what old and no longer maintained, but open source and written in a language I know. So I contacted the maintainers, the project was given to me, and I spent about two months working to bring it current and make it usable.

It is now open and ready for use. While it is intended to benefit the space advocacy community, it is open to anyone. The only restriction on joining is that one needs to watch the video 'Money as Debt'. This really is important, if you don't watch this video, it is not likely that you will understand the need for a LETS or how it would be of benefit.

See you on Mars

Terry Mackintosh

Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station Mars Desert Research Station Photo of the day: Click to enlarge FMARS webcam. MDRS webcam.

What are you (yes you) doing in your own life to help get to mars?
Food for thought, some things you can do:

• Get an education. All or most all skills will be needed on mars, so pick an area that interests you and become an expert in it.
• Join a space advocacy group AND be an --active-- member of that group.
  Might I suggest joining The Mars Society if you have not already?
  • Participate in activities such as the Mars Sample Return design contest.
  • Join the mailing list(s) and share your ideas with others and learn of their ideas.
  • Think of things to do that will work in even a small way toward any aspect of getting to mars.
• In addition to actively participating in such a group, you can send cash donations to the group of your choice.
• Public outreach:
  • Are you good with words? could you write articles and solicit magazines and newspapers to print them?
  • Are you a good speaker? could you become the 'in the know person' on space related stuff in your area and get on radio or TV via interviews or a show of your own?
• Political outreach:
  • Are you a politically connected person? even if only in your own neighborhood?
  • Are you willing to be an 'activist'? You do know that a democracy does not operate from voting booths right?
  • Are you driven and persistent?
  • Can you get passed the office guards (secretary/receptionist) and get appointments? possibly setting up appointments for someone else to go?
  • Partition the FCC to reopen licensing of LPFM stations. These stations are mostly used for community radio and could provide a larger voice to raise awareness of civilian efforts to get to mars.
  • Partition the FCC to give LPFM stations a higher priority then translator (repeater) stations (used by large companies to blanket the country with the same signal).
• Other?