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your #150: "Somebody has to make some decisions about where the priorities lie, and where we should spend our money. We only have so much money. "

OK, XBob, The perspective of a purchasing officer is a good one for thinking in terms of triage. I know you are not opposed to all space exploration as a matter of principle, but a matter of balance and effectiveness of dollars invested.

Agreed that we have only so much money (our tax dollars)...
You certainly agree that it is a choice between competing, desirable initiatives.

If we could do all these things it would be great:
* cure cancer (Manhattan Project-sized investment in biotech)
* find new energy sources (clean fusion may depend on a better understanding of particle physics)
* find a better launch system (space elevator or microwave energy transfer for launch-to-orbit) Yes, we could use research to find more cost-effective launch systems.
* Security for our nation and borders. (vs. N. Korea, etc).

Many more goals to spend money on.

Agreed that our decision making process is also a rationing of limited resources...