You know the answer to that question. It is inherent to the way government programs are allocated and operated.
I wonder what it would cost to interest Burt Rutan in servicing the ISS?
Bingo, more private competition and a reality TV series! Sir Richard Branson needs stroke his ego in a space race vs. Paul Allen.
Rutan talks big. What delta-vee did "Spaceship One" deliver? He needs >30,000 ft/sec to make it into orbit; and a bit more to change to the ISS' silly plane.
Guess what? He spent more winning $10 million than the prize was worth. Let me see him make it to orbit--repeatedly--with useful cargo--for less than $2000 per pound, or into GEO/Lunar transit for less than $10000 per pound. He will find it somewhat difficult. Rubber and laughing gas will not do it.
--Boris