Hacker News Reader

You know, I think we would have still made it to the moon if those two guys spent time with their family

But it wasn't just about mankind making it to the moon. It was about getting there "before the bad guys". About making a show of willpower. About proving that no sacrifice is too large.

Making "a show" of willpower isn't useful.

Beating the Russians to the moon isn't what caused their failing political and economic system to collapse. The Russians are still the ones who keep the ISS alive, and it's not meaningfully harming USA or helping Russia in geopolotical hegemony

> About proving that no sacrifice is too large.

I would posit that this mindset is broadly a disease and not a cure.

It totally is a disease

Any yet if Britain and France had made more of a show of willpower in 1937 then Germany probably would've decided against starting WWII and about 28 million lives would've been saved.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com