This is what they have been looking for: long term drug therapy they can charge whatever they want for. Pay or die. A cure doesn't pay enough. Yes I am cynical.

As to uncivilized retards making it into space, any place that still behaves the way you describe doesn't exhibit much intelligence and has very little likelihood of ever making it into space. And face it, any corporation that will make it to space has more resources and brain power than most uncivilized countries. And to to be generous, the places that can make it into space are the places that sell the tin pot dictatorships you speak of their fourth rate war gear. So if there was any concern the industry that does make it there will have access to far better defence technology than your banana republics. For the foreseeable future there is pretty much no chance that space flight will be so common or easy that we see the kinds of space pirates written about is science fiction. So all told, your point is moot.

Since you started a pissing contest: Sure. I have lived long term in two countries, worked in 3 on two continents, and have travelled to and through at least 14 countries on 3 continents (worked in 4 provinces and 5 states... only two of which count in months, been to six of the ten provinces in Canada, and 41 of the 50 US states). And I pay attention, from multiple sources, to what goes on in the world. And I suspect the reason you can claim to have worked in 14 countries is because mostly the countries are fairly tiny and close together, which means not that big a change in terms of the general culture. Anyone who moves around North America can make the same claim. The difference is it is civilized here, unlike it seems, anywhere you've been (compared to Africa, what went on in Ferguson MO, is a blip).

"any resources obtained in outer space from an asteroid are the property of the entity that obtained such resources."

Sounds to me like it says that whoever gets the iron, gold, iridium, space fairy dust, whatever from an asteroid owns it. I don't see how that is different from what happens on earth (aside from the space fairy dust). Whoever digs the hole generally owns the minerals extracted. What I didn't see is how they determine who owns the mine or has rights to mine a particular rock. Being a pretty extreme environment, at first it may just boil down to possession is nine tenths of the law. But I personally don't see any issues with this. Whoever gets the stuff out should own it. Just as long as they don't fuck up returning material to earth and accidentally drop a football field size chunk of iron or nickel (or whatever) on a city at orbital velocities. Maybe better to make the finished goods on the moon if they need gravity, or in lunar orbit first. Keep the big dangerous shit away from the planet.

I call it shitty, because it is shitty that people don't care enough. I don't know how you can take it that I don't care just because I think it's shitty that other people don't and/or are fatigued about it. So don't bitch at me. And the reason your suggestions won't work is because most people in the U.S. (and in many western countries) are too fucking apathetic to actually try to pressure their representatives to do something about it or vote for someone who will. Personally I eschew libertarianism, And as for Green Party, it depends what their platform is. Some, maybe many among them are too socialistic for my tastes. Some realize that business is important and try to strike a sustainable balance. Those I could go for. But without a populace willing to learn about their own systems of government and will to do something about it, it won't fly.

FTFY

Easy: have an apathetic electorate. We the people by the people and all that.

If you don't do something, then people that will do something, will get what they want. And it won't necessarily be what you like or even want; and you will have to live with it until when and if you do something about it.

I call it shitty.

The real source is this Washington Post article(s).

I used to play that every day at the arcades. I knew one guy who was so good at it he could put in a quarter and play for hours and walk away with tons of extra men; if he didn't want to put his name up on the high scores.

They got money for the competition phase, then whatever bones Lockheed threw them. It definitely was not awarded to both parties. http://www.defense.gov/news/ne...

This will depend on how much each company is willing to fund individual congressmen.

One word: Joint Strike Fighter. ummm I mean... Joint Joke Fighter? ... what am I missing? Did I get the number right?

Then divide by two or three for all the duplicate stories on the same rock.

Occam says, you're wrong.. Conspiracy and Russian propaganda retards notwithstanding.

Read up on the Battle of Queenston Heights. America had a 3 to 1 advantage and even killed the British General Brock. But America suffered a decisive loss. Or how about The Surrender of Detroit where an entrenched American force surrendered to the British even though they numbered twice as big as the British force. It was the engagements during the war that count. Not a side show that happened after, even if those parties didn't know it was actually all over. Hey, I generally like America. I lived there long enough. But facts are facts. It was victory for the British/Canadians considering the objective of America was to take over Canada, which they didn't. Canada was successfully defended, which also counts as a victory. Not the overwhelming ass-whooping Canadians like to think of it. But still a victory. And it was 200 years ago. So get over it. Everyone.

Same complaint in Canada. When they have no choice, then they do it.