In contrast, our societies today instead try to maximize consumption, which devalues our people as they get softer, flabbier and, even, fail to reproduce.
This does not mean consumption as measured by economists, in dollars, although there is substantial overlap. It means consumption in the sense of satisfaction of individual human appetites, eventually to the detriment of the whole human being and his or her society.
The most unimaginably challenging megaprojects are not even interplanetary, but interstellar. A civilization genuinely committed to undertaking such projects would finally generate the political capital necessary to streamline the economy, eliminate rent-seeking, and solve a million other minor and major problems, annoyances, and inefficiencies. It would also finally generate demand for human beings and therefore offer the possibility of solving the fertility crisis.
Its a unique story. But I don’t think its impossible for a socialist government to explore and set bases outside earth. There were a lot of plans by the soviets for that (like beaming down energy from orbital solar collectors)
Oh they do just later after Earth’s climate situation is stabilized. They make moves into space initially for pure exploration but also to counter the growing capitalist space colonies and prevent them from controlling high orbital, Earth-Moon system, and the inner planets.
and they allow revolutionary youth to join up with the space capitalists with the deliberate intent of fomenting revolution and organizing.
i really need to get to writing this just need more time outlining and read some more sci-fi to get my writing skills back.