From Gary: "My response is: If our government was serious about ISS then they would not be engaging in political games (like tiny crew size) but pursue an aggressive ramp up of ISS capability. The fact that they are doing political games indicates that ISS is perceived by the President and the majority of his advisors as a purely political exercise with no real scientific value."
I do not believe it is established that "our government" is serious about space expenditures in any way, ISS or otherwise. If they are willing to let ISS starve for lack of funding, then it should bode very ill for any manned Mars mission.
I think I stated my point too subtly, so let me clarify: expect the same government to treat your project the same way they treat someone else's project.
Space/Science » in reply to Bungled analogy
Goose and Gander