I'm reading this for probably the dozenth time, and it dawned on me: this would make a great movie! It doesn't require any back story or threads of continuity to present-day Earth, so the story can start after a 5-minute or so lead-in summarizing humanity's spread through the solar system and beyond.
_________________________
Phil

"Can I tell you something?
Got to tell you one thing.
If you expect the freedom
That you say is yours
Prove that you deserve it
And help us to preserve it
Or being free will just be
Words and nothing more"