"If the driving factor is propellent to get to Mars, I agree. But by bootstrapping missions to build an outpost on the Moon, you build an infrastructure and a rationale that addresses military and national security. That does have a funding stream and science will go along for the ride." Ten thousand dollars per pound FOB LEO. We are talking about building a city on the Moon, or maybe a good-sized town. Figure out the mass. Then the cost follows instantly.
The toilets would be worth more than gold...
Imagine building a medium-sized town on Earth, out of pure gold. That will solifidy what you are talking about.
Again: never in our lifetime.
--Boris
Yes the cost will be high (not your gold plated city model) but we need to back. The alternative is handing control of our national security and our economic security to those still interested in building a lunar outpost. The cost and consequences of that shortsightedness is incalculable.
It would seem some would rather go nowhere than go back to the Moon. Sour grapes perhaps?