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Building a Building a Sustainable Sustainable

Political Consensus Political Consensus for Construction of for Construction of

a Space Elevatora Space ElevatorJames N. GardnerJames N. Gardner

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Pete Aldridge on the Pete Aldridge on the principal challenge principal challenge

confronting President confronting President Bush’s new space Bush’s new space exploration policy:exploration policy:

““I think the biggest stumbling block is I think the biggest stumbling block is ensuring political sustainability. The ensuring political sustainability. The continuation of support for such a continuation of support for such a program has to survive multiple program has to survive multiple presidencies, multiple Congresses, presidencies, multiple Congresses, and multiple generations.”and multiple generations.”

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The same is true for the The same is true for the space elevator project.space elevator project.

Anticipate impassioned orations, TV Anticipate impassioned orations, TV interviews, and op-eds from well-interviews, and op-eds from well-positioned naysayers like Steven positioned naysayers like Steven Weinberg.Weinberg.

Prominent naysayers will take advantage Prominent naysayers will take advantage of an initial public perception that the of an initial public perception that the project is exotic and “far out.”project is exotic and “far out.”

Naysayers could achieve political Naysayers could achieve political resonance with a public distressed by resonance with a public distressed by appearance of excessive government appearance of excessive government spending, waste, and incompetence. spending, waste, and incompetence.

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Importance of the Importance of the Political FramePolitical Frame

Political debates are often won or lost by Political debates are often won or lost by the choice of the initial political frame.the choice of the initial political frame.

Political frame: a fundamental paradigm Political frame: a fundamental paradigm or organizing principle that allows the or organizing principle that allows the public to grasp a complex issue in public to grasp a complex issue in simplistic terms.simplistic terms.

Winning or losing largely depends on Winning or losing largely depends on which competing political frame gains which competing political frame gains credibility with the public, not the messy credibility with the public, not the messy details of an issue.details of an issue.

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Space Elevator: The Wrong Space Elevator: The Wrong FrameFrame

The excitement and glamour of The excitement and glamour of manned space exploration of the manned space exploration of the Solar System.Solar System.

The segment of the public that The segment of the public that would respond to this frame will would respond to this frame will support the project anyway.support the project anyway.

This frame will not move the This frame will not move the skeptical but persuadable segment skeptical but persuadable segment of the public.of the public.

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Space Elevator: The Space Elevator: The Right FrameRight Frame

Improving the intelligence-gathering Improving the intelligence-gathering capacity of America and its allies.capacity of America and its allies.

Acquiring enhanced defense Acquiring enhanced defense capabilities against emerging military capabilities against emerging military and terrorist threats.and terrorist threats.

Long-term prospect for new and more Long-term prospect for new and more secure energy supplies.secure energy supplies.

Doing all of the above better, faster, Doing all of the above better, faster, cheaper than with alternative methods.cheaper than with alternative methods.

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Secondary Benefit of a Secondary Benefit of a Potent FramePotent Frame

Leverages support from major institutions Leverages support from major institutions (public and private) in two ways:(public and private) in two ways: Provide basic messaging for their lobbying.Provide basic messaging for their lobbying. Provides themes for their institutional ads Provides themes for their institutional ads

and PR.and PR. Helps private-sector entities (i.e., Helps private-sector entities (i.e.,

aerospace and defense contractors) and aerospace and defense contractors) and politically beleaguered agencies (i.e., the politically beleaguered agencies (i.e., the CIA) convey the impression they are CIA) convey the impression they are advancing the public interest and are advancing the public interest and are “ahead of the curve.”“ahead of the curve.”

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Third Benefit of a Potent Third Benefit of a Potent FrameFrame

Helps persuade institutional elites to Helps persuade institutional elites to provide financial support.provide financial support.

Key institutional elites to get on board Key institutional elites to get on board beyond NASA:beyond NASA: DOD and US intelligence agencies.DOD and US intelligence agencies. Private-sector players (Boeing, etc.) whose Private-sector players (Boeing, etc.) whose

participation could be secured with participation could be secured with commercial concessions (the US commercial concessions (the US transcontinental railroad construction transcontinental railroad construction model).model).

Similar deals with foreign players (public & Similar deals with foreign players (public & private).private).

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Charismatic framer? Not Charismatic framer? Not needed.needed.

Do we need a new Abraham Lincoln, Do we need a new Abraham Lincoln, the steadfast supporter of the the steadfast supporter of the monumental 19monumental 19thth Century project to Century project to construct a U. S. transcontinental construct a U. S. transcontinental railroad?railroad? No.No. Often preferable to frame an issue Often preferable to frame an issue

campaign using unknown “everyman” campaign using unknown “everyman” spokespersons representing appealing spokespersons representing appealing political stereotypes.political stereotypes.

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SummarySummary Construction of the first space elevator Construction of the first space elevator

will be a daunting technological will be a daunting technological challenge (obviously).challenge (obviously).

However, the biggest challenge may be However, the biggest challenge may be political, not technical.political, not technical.

As with the U. S. transcontinental As with the U. S. transcontinental railroad project, adept political strategy railroad project, adept political strategy will be an essential element of success.will be an essential element of success.

Key to political success: choice of a Key to political success: choice of a simple and compelling political frame simple and compelling political frame that shapes debate.that shapes debate.

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Contact InformationContact Information

Contact James N. Gardner atContact James N. Gardner at JNGARD@aol.comJNGARD@aol.com