Return to the moon

While we're on the subject. Any Questions is typically about politicians from each of the main parties trying to win cheap points while making the public aware of their party's policies on the events of the day. It ends with the "and finally" question -- the silly question, where everyone calms down and shows us that they're human, and they can share a laugh with their colleagues on the opposite benches. Which is the main reason why I object to the "and finally" question this week being "should we return to the moon?"

Historian Andrew Roberts isn't sure we should have gone there at all. "We got teflon for cooking bacon and eggs, but not much else."

"Velcro!", exclaimed Will Self. Following a question about the uses of velcro, we have some banter about Vauxhall clubs.

"Think of the rainforests," I paraphrase Linda Colley. "Won't somebody please think of the rainforests?"

Finally, Rod Liddle says, "well I think it was exciting."

Yes! Leaving aside the fact that the technology that has come out of space exploration is infinitely more varied and useful than Andrew Roberts' imagination can cope with; leaving aside the wonderful and beautiful scientific discoveries that have been made; space exploration is just damned exciting. The astronauts of the Apollo missions travelled further from home than any man has ever been, and returning to our neighbour, barren and grey though it might be, would symbolise the fact that mankind has not stopped dreaming of taking that next step, to more wonderful places, and discovering our universe. To satisfy our innate yearning for adventure, discovery, and understanding of the world.

The answer to this question would say far more to me about a politician than their ability to repeat the party line on this week's scandal, or praise a recently deceased entertainer that they had barely heard of.