[irv]

This is why NASA should not be seen as the lead in going into space. If they just built some launch facilities, there are others out there willing to do the heavy lifting (so to speak).

[anymouse]

Not to disagree with your sentiments, but Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg were built by private contractors for the government. When is the last time you saw an un-civil un-servant dig a trench or weld rebar? Even most of the launch operations are done by private contractor employees.

The Constitution is pretty clear on what the government's role in society is and what it isn't supposed to do. Doing space isn't on that list. Let the commercial sector do what it does best.