From your keys to God’s ears!
Have not hit the link you provided yet, but thanks in advance and complete agreement on the summary. Over Christmas got into the whole exploration / space debate and it always pains me to hear the miserable excuses people have for NOT doing something grand. Often well meaning but not well informed!
Rise to the Challenge, folks!
You are completely right about that, but I don't really think the "grand" has to be manned space flight.
It is sad that the country isn't filled with dreamers anymore. There is a real attitude just filling the pages of those old Popular Mechanics/Science magazines that doesn't seem to be present nowadays.
I want my flying car!
For all the greatness in human progress and ingenuity that brought about manned space travel, there's no getting around the fact that it was a massive government program that couldn't possibly be justified under Constitutional law. In fact, this sort of program has probably done more to destroy our culture of self-reliance and individual freedom. Space exploration in U.S. history has been state-sponsored socialism at its core.