Myself, and others posting here, have been saying this stuff for years now.

Here is something I wrote back on the MSNBC Space BBS in response to why we should explore space;

Why Explore space? Why should humans learn to live and work in space? Because it’s a learning experience. When ever the human race finds itself in a new environment we make great leaps in our knowledge. We grow so much. To limit ourselves to the Earth offers few new experiences. We’ll begin to stagnate.

This is one reason why we should expand into space. I can think of many more but I feel this, next to learning how to stop asteroids, is our most important reason.

Space offers unlimited resources and room to grow. Space offers a place for humans to get our pollution causing industry off the Earth. Mars and Venus have the potential to be new Earths. The Gas Giant Moons offer resources and new wonders to discover.