[cmurf]

OK so what disqualifies a polluter with a pile of cash from buying a seat from one of these kids?

I see the whole problem as related to manifest destiny, either economic or religious. Pure free markets will save us, and/or so will some deity. Because such faith can't possibly be wrong, can't possibly lead us astray to the degree the species ends.

Is that so?

[spdustin]

I don't think a deity or a politician or a wealthy philanthropist will save us. We're beyond saving. I think I can teach my kids how to help save themselves and their like-minded peers, those very peers that would leave this planet behind if they could.

As for what stops someone buying a seat on that one-way ride to a brave new world? Two things:

1) Your hypothetical buyer isn't actually that brave.

2) The same reason people can't rush the cockpit of a fully loaded airliner any longer. The rest of the passengers know it's in their best interests, as a group, to prevent that from happening.