I respectfully disagree. Space exploration represents exactly the type of things government should be doing instead of the nanny state crap. I consider it long term R&D and insurance for survival of mankind itself. The private sector can help as well but a primary role of government is to defend the country itself even if it includes defense and strategies for surviving attacks from giant rocks.
How does space exploration translate into this goal in your viewpoint? Finding out at great expense that Mars and the other planets are made out of rocks and dirt just doesn't eem to help humanitiy's survival. ANd while on the subject of what's :out here" Chemistry and physics pretty much let us know there aren't going to be any surprises. Rocks and dirt