What I mean when I say NASA is not a space program it's a jobs program is that for the last few decades NASA funding has been supported to ensure jobs in the selected congressional districts. Congress is not pushing NASA to "explore space" but to do project X at whatever cost to supply press releases and photo ops for congresspersons to impress their district. This is how defense and space politics work.

What is a positive about the Columbia event is for the 1st time in DECADES I'm now seeing public discussion around what should NASA's space exploration mission be? What is the goal, the vision?

I for one am convinced that NO govt program will give us low cost space access. Prizes that stimulate MANY different private capital investments at risk for large potential reward.