I agree that people who get involved with space programs will be glad to "take what we can get" in terms of funding whether that means deep-space robotic missio

I agree that people who get involved with space programs will be glad to "take what we can get" in terms of funding whether that means deep-space robotic missions or another manned moon landing. Good things will happen with both. But why not choose the best way forward when it comes to space exploration? Why not free ourselves from the strictures of yet another "space race" with low-brow nationalistic goals where we again end up citing uninspiring spin-offs as the reward for "winning" the race?