On a more serious note, we should not abdicate space to private industries (which 0 will run into the ground) or foreign powers. We should maintain the "high ground" for defense purposes. NASA is one way to visibly show that we have the high ground, since it is not in our best interest to show how the military has the high ground.
Why do so many conservatives sound like our business hating president when it comes to talking about the role of "private industry" in space? It seems that all the rhetoric about the benefits of the market, and the destructiveness of government, only applies to comparatively trial issues such as health care. When it comes to the infinity of space, however, it is federal government uber alles! Do you really want to give Obama and his socialist successors a monopoly on space? Think again.
Oh....btw, by and large, the foreign powers are too smart to waste resources on space boondogles and collecting more rocks. Let's leave space to the freedom and enterprise of individuals rather than dead hand of bureaucrats.