It would be most effective if done by constitutional amendment.  The majority of Americans approve of such an amendment, just as they and I approve of an amendment mandating a balanced Federal budget.  Many States also have this protection in their constitutions.

To talk of meeting the present situation by increasing taxes is a Band-Aid solution which does nothing to cure an illness that’s been coming on for half a century—­to say nothing of the fact that it poses a real threat to economic recovery.  Let’s remember that a substantial amount of income tax is presently owed and not paid by people in the underground economy.  It would be immoral to make those who are paying taxes pay more to compensate for those who aren’t paying their share.

There’s a better way.  Let us go forward with an historic reform for fairness, simplicity, and incentives for growth.  I am asking Secretary Don Regan for a plan for action to simplify the entire tax code, so all taxpayers, big and small, are treated more fairly.  And I believe such a plan could result in that underground economy being brought into the sunlight of honest tax compliance.  And it could make the tax base broader, so personal tax rates could come down, not go up.  I’ve asked that specific recommendations, consistent with those objectives, be presented to me by December 1984.

Our second great goal is to build on America’s pioneer spirit—­I said something funny?  I said America’s next frontier—­and that’s to develop that frontier.  A sparkling economy spurs initiatives, sunrise industries, and makes older ones more competitive.

Nowhere is this more important than our next frontier:  space.  Nowhere do we so effectively demonstrate our technological leadership and ability to make life better on Earth.  The Space Age is barely a quarter of a century old.  But already we’ve pushed civilization forward with our advances in science and technology.  Opportunities and jobs will multiply as we cross new thresholds of knowledge and reach deeper into the unknown.

Our progress in space—­taking giant steps for all mankind—­is a tribute to American teamwork and excellence.  Our finest minds in government, industry, and academia have all pulled together.  And we can be proud to say:  We are first; we are the best; and we are so because we’re free.

America has always been greatest when we dared to be great.  We can reach for greatness again.  We can follow our dreams to distant stars, living and working in space for peaceful, economic, and scientific gain.  Tonight, I am directing NASA to develop a permanently manned space station and to do it within a decade.

A space station will permit quantum leaps in our research in science, communications, in metals, and in lifesaving medicines which could be manufactured only in space.  We want our friends to help us meet these challenges and share in their benefits.  NASA will invite other countries to participate so we can strengthen peace, build prosperity, and expand freedom for all who share our goals.