United Communities (Space Race Didn't End)

United Communities is the only recognized organized political group within the United States Luna system of communities on the surface of the Moon that runs the overall government of American luna communities. It was established in 1982 at Tranquility Base now a National Historical site. The community is made up of the 4 luna cities, 18 towns, 36 village size communities and several dozen mining or industrial bases. It has no established boundary instead it is located all over the surface of the moon, many of these communities are next to similar communities from other countries.

History
The United Communities was established due to the rapid growth and colonization efforts during the late 1970's. There was a great amount of confusion in the tax code for the new colonists who did not want to pay the state taxes of the previous home states. There was also a growing amount of administrative cost associated with launching timetable, food and water costs and a steady air supply and who is responsible for problems, shortages and price gouging. With dozens of bases autherized the few established communites needed to take control of the situation. The first face to face meeting between the communities organizers also saw business leader and NASA officials. The group pointed out that try were not trying to "sneak around" or start a revolution especially in light of the fact that the early communities were in no way able to do it own their own under any circumstance. With 70% of food still being shipped up and new colonist arriving faster then food expansion could keep up.

After the first meeting a committee, to lay out the goals of the group, was set up and the group sent a Letter of Intent to the presedent and congress. While many people on and off the moon thought it was premature, as the population was only several thousand, the United States government quickly embraced the idea as many believed that NASA held to much power and had made to many mistakes.

It was quickly decided the statehood could not be seriously considered but that some kind of represntative democracy in the American tradition was the only possible choice. Well some believed that a new type of government more in line with socialism may make more sense, do to the need for a constant and reliable air, water and food supplies. This new group created the Socialist Party of Tranquility and they quickly set up conferences in the different communities to explain their point of view. However, both of America's traditional political parties quickly followed suit and as most people were already capable of legally voting and members of either the democratic or republican party the socialist quickly lost their footing.

The debates over how the each communities should be set up, how the overall luna community should be set up and how NASA would turn over control quickly became the talk of the moon.