Columbus, upon bumping into a landmass, as of yet unknown to his home country, meets natives of this continent and in turn paves the way for a new culture of imperialism and the proliferation of mass extinction. Why is there no McDonalds or Pizza Hut on the moon? Because there are no customers there.

This whole search for life in outer space movement should by and large be capable of finding funding from big corporations seeking to off their product on more markets. If we found life out there in the galaxy, the first thing we would try to do is sell it something. And if all we found were a green lush planet, we would determine a way to parcel it out and sell each spot to the highest bidder.

What they can’t sell would be turned into World Parks and monitored by employees paid for centuries by the fortunes amassed at these sales. Of course, remember, this is all in the speculative phase.

Even if we were able to communicate with a planet so far away we can’t see it, how would you send all-beef patties through the galaxies and know that your customers still alive when the steaming buns meet his dusty lips? And the people, the rich people of our world will bid on plots that they may never see. They have hopes that some day their children or at least their children’s children will be able to see this truly New World.